By Mohamed Kamara
In the lead-up to the Presidential Elections of the Okada Riders Associations on May 4, 2024, at the Freetown International Conference Center in Aberdeen, and the Bar Association Elections held in the Eastern Regional Headquarters of Kenema, dissatisfaction, cries of foul play, and calls for the nullification of the elections by a cross-section of membership have raised concerns among citizens.
Before the Okada elections on May 4, several meetings were held between the Internal Affairs Minister, Major General Taluva, and the Executive branch of the Association at the Internal Affairs Conference Hall. The Minister cautioned the Executive to abstain from politics, emphasizing that they are not politicians. The two contenders for the presidency, Ismael Sandy and Osman Conteh, took an oath promising to uphold non-violence.
On May 4, 2024, a heavy security presence, including the Internal Affairs Minister, the Inspector General, the head of ONS, and other top-ranking officials, was observed. No Okada rider was allowed to be present at the vicinity except for the 40 scheduled delegates. Only 24 delegates participated and voted, while 16 abstained. Reasons cited for the abstention include suspicions that the election was rigged in favor of Sandy, believed to be affiliated with the SLPP.
Concerned citizens have voiced their discontent regarding the Bar Association elections. They have criticized the behavior of the returning officer and accused the ACC Commissioner of showing bias towards Madam Adama Jabbie. It has been revealed that the Association faced several issues, leading several former Presidents to sign a communique condemning the elections.
Questions have been raised about the conduct of lawyers, who are expected to be constitutionalists. If they were aware that constitutional requirements were violated, why did they not boycott the elections, ask citizens.
