By Mohamed Kamara
Investigations conducted by this medium have indicated that the two-time former flagbearer of the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC), Dr. Samura Kamara, delivered a speech on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, in relation to the Unity Agreements and Tripartite Committee. In his speech, he blamed the Electoral Commission for allegedly rigging the elections in favor of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP). This statement was intended to calm APC supporters who had anticipated a change in political leadership on June 19, 2024.
Sources say Samura was compelled to make this speech because the party is constrained by the constitution for the following reasons. The agreement has rendered the constitution sacrosanct, and only the Supreme Court, as stipulated by the constitution, has the authority to order a rerun of elections. A subcommittee born out of an agreement, such as the Tripartite Committee, does not have the mandate to recommend a rerun or the removal of any commissioner from the ECSL. These matters are for the constitution of Sierra Leone to address, not a committee.
The APC participated in this process for six months, and only a few days before its conclusion, they now want to boycott it and deprive Sierra Leone of the very progressive reforms that the committee and all the experts have worked on. The ECSL commission appeared before the committee, as noted by the ECSL on their information page. Why did the APC not pose all their questions during that time but chose to send a separate letter later? From the ECSL’s responses to the APC team’s letter, it is clear that the ECSL submitted all the requested documents. Why then use the ECSL as an excuse for failing to serve the nation and your party supporters? Any grievances regarding electoral outcomes should be pursued through due legal processes, including recourse to the Supreme Court, as outlined in S45 (2), paragraphs a and b. The timeline for Sierra Leone’s next general election is scheduled for 2028.
Based on its TOR, it was observed that the Tripartite Committee’s work does not involve re-running the 2023 elections and did not make any recommendations that might warrant a rerun of the June 2023 elections. The mandate of the committee was electoral reform, not replacing President Julius Maada Bio’s current term. The Committee engaged various stakeholders across the country, including traditional and religious leaders, local councilors, political parties and their supporters, CSOs, and the media, to discuss the committee’s work and gather feedback on strengthening Sierra Leone’s electoral systems. Every process and activity of the committee was inclusive and participatory. The committee was very clear and cautioned against misinformation about its activities that could lead to public confusion.
It was noted that the APC team on the Committee has been constantly misleading their supporters and the general populace about the scope, objectives, and activities of the committee, which has raised tension and threatened the stability and peace of the country. The APC team has given false information and hope to their supporters and the general public about a rerun of the 2023 elections, despite knowing the procedures and regulations guiding elections in the country, as outlined in the Public Elections Act of 2012 and the 1991 constitution of Sierra Leone.
