By Alpha Abu
The Provisional Nomination Process of Presidential Candidates and Running Mates for 13 Political Parties has ended at the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL) headquarters in Freetown with the election body approving all 13 aspirants and their running mates.
The final day of the nomination exercise yesterday saw the only female Presidential candidate in this year’s polls Madam Iye Kakay of the Alliance Democratic Party (ADP) given provisional approval by ECSL. Her running mate is Ambrose Franklyn Kobi.
To bring the curtains down on a process that began on Monday 1st May 2023, veteran politician Francis Charles Margai of the Peoples Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC) will again lead his party to the polls as presidential nominee for the 4th time in a row. His running mate is Tony Bob Hindolo Songa.
Margai told journalists it will be his last attempt at Sierra Leone’s top political office as he will be 78 in August this year.
Chief Electoral Commissioner Mohamed K. Konneh in summing up the whole process said it was good to note that all 13 political parties were satisfied with the nomination process.
He said the commission is resolute in its commitment to conduct free and fair elections, whose results will be accepted by all, and that people will be able to return to their day-to-day activities.
He used the opportunity to explain a situation wherein the citation done for the main opposition All Peoples Congress (APC) had to be corrected following the detection of an error after the party’s nomination.
He said they’ve asked the APC to collect the proper citation but instead, people have taken to social media accusing the commission of biases. Konneh asserted that no amount of misinformation or disinformation will deter them as an electoral institution from doing what is right.
The commission began the process last Monday with the main opposition All Peoples Congress (APC) Presidential Candidate Dr. Samura Mathew Wilson Kamara, followed by incumbent President Julius Maada Bio of the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP).
Dr.Kamara and President Bio were accompanied by their respective Running Mates Chernor Maju Bah and Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh.
The Revolutionary United Front Party (RUFP) presidential candidate is Dr. Abdulai D. Saccoh, and will contest the elections with running mate Alice K. Pyne.
The United National Peoples Party (UNPP) will be led by Dr. Saa Henry Kabuta, and Gabriel Samuka as his Vice.
Peoples Liberation Party (PLP) will go to the polls with Nabieu Musa Kamara vying for the presidency and Saidu A.K. Mannah his running mate.
Citizens Democratic Party (CDP) is led by Mohamed Jonjo, with Madam Kaday Johnson his running mate.
Republic National Independent Party (ReNIP) will be represented in the presidential race by Beresford Victor Williams with Madam Kadija Bangura his vice presidential nominee.
Dr. Jonathan Sandy (aka JPJ) is the Presidential Candidate for the National Unity and Reconciliation Party (NURP) and Reverend Komba Mbawa is the vice presidential nominee.
The other nominees are Prince Coker flag bearer for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) with running mate Ibrahim Jalloh, Mohamed Sowa- Turay and Olivette Walker of the United Democratic Movement (UDM) as respective presidential and running mate candidates, and Mohamed Chernoh Bah (presidential candidate) and Mariatu Saudatu Turay (running mate) for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Apart from Madam Kakay who is going for the presidency, four other women are running mates- the highest number to run for such office since multi-party democracy returned to Sierra Leone in 1996.
The 13 parties are to contest the 24th June 2023 elections.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (10/05/23)
