By Mohamed T. Massaquoi
The National Commission for Democracy (NCD) has joined a growing chorus of calls for de-escalation of violence as political tension mounts following last weekend’s by-election in Constituency 110.
NCD, in the statement dated August 27, questioned the actions of the police and the National Electoral Commission in their handling of the situation which it said has dented the democratic image of the country. The statement called on the security, judicial and political actors to ensure justice is prevailed in ongoing investigations of those arrested in relation to the violence.
The election which was held on Saturday August 24 pitted APC’s Kadie Davies against SLPP’s Josephine Jackson. A third contender, Ibrahim Kabba, ran on the ticket of the National Grand Coalition (NGC) while Femi Claudius-Cole was on the ballot for the Unity Party.
The National Electoral Commission cancelled the entire votes as a result of the violence which it said prevented it from getting results in one center.
NCD frowned at this decision by the NEC, noting that votes in areas marred by violence could have been rerun, rather than the entire process been cancelled.
NCD said it received many questions about the situation with some questioning the sincerity and fairness of arresting some people prior to the election on allegation of violence with those people still kept in custody, whereas the perpetrators of violence on the day of the election have not been arrested, but allowed to roam freely.
“In view of this situation, the Management of NCD is calling on the Law Enforcement Agencies and the Courts to serve the ends of justice and create a level playing field for all Sierra Leoneans and avoid creating disaffection if our hard-won democracy is to work in the best interest of the people,” it said.
It added: “It is the reasoned view of the Management of NCD that a rerun of the polling center where the violence occurred is more in sync with the laws, common sense and fair play than the cancellation of the results from the other centers where voting was conducted without any major incident.”
NCD also called on all stakeholders to work in accordance with the laws and treat everybody fairly as citizens with equal rights.
“Let it be made abundantly clear that if our democracy is to work perfectly in the context of a peaceful, united and cohesive Country, we should create a level playing field for all Sierra Leoneans regardless of background or shade of opinion on issues in the Country,” it said.
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