By Nasratu Kargbo
The Chairperson of National Elections Watch (NEW), Marcella Samba Sesay has called on the Judiciary of Sierra Leone to address the public on the consequences of electoral offences. Sesay made this call at a press conference held by Electoral Commission Sierra Leone (ECSL).
She explained that they have been following issues that fall under the purview of the judiciary and Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC) and that NEW as an organisation found cases of electoral offence. She mentioned the use of money to canvass people during registration and attempts of underage registration.
Sesay noted that their institution has called on the judiciary to address the nation on the consequences of electoral offences.
The Chairperson also called on the PPRC to look at regulating the political parties, since they are taking advantage of the registration as a platform to campaign.
“Issues related to campaigning during the registration process were observed, and we think that it is unacceptable and we must try as best as possible that those institutions responsible for that aspect of the sanity of the electoral processes, step up in their roles”, said Sesay.
NEW’s primary role is to observe the electioneering process through monitoring to ensure increased public confidence in the legitimacy of results.
It is a coalition of over 375 national and international civil society and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), established in 2002.
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