By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
The Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC) has cautioned the Chairman of the Interim Governance Transition Committee (IGTC) of the All People’s Congress Party (APC), Alfred Peter Conteh for accusing the commission of involvement in the party’s wrangling.
The PPRC letter dated Wednesday16th November, 2022 and addressed to Conteh was in response to another letter reportedly written by him in which he expressed “concern about the formation of district registration agents.”
The commission says Conteh’s letter was not addressed to anyone, but claimed its contents relate to the commission, and reflective of the IGTC Chairman’s ‘misconduct’ in the PPRC Conference room.
“Your attempt at dictating to the commission, as to how it conduct its business, is an affront to its authority and thus unacceptable. We are a state Institution with a defined mandate and that must be respected by you and all that we deal with,” part of the PPRC letter states.
Conteh’s own letter and conduct were considered not only disrespectful to the commission, but also interference in its work, the latter, constituting an Offence under Section 10 of the Political Parties Act No. 3 of 2002.
PPRC says it will not hesitate to invoke its powers, if such ‘’brazen conduct’’ persists. Conteh was also reminded that all of the decisions he has taken as Chairman of the Committee have been challenged by other members of that body.
According to PPRC until the Court judgment gives a definition of Conteh’s powers, both views held by him and the other members of the Committee are mere conjectures.
It’s also stated that the IGTC Chairman kept making accusations against the commission, cognizant of the fact that he is not a regular organ of the Party and that the court Judgment is not a ruling of the commission. Had the chairman being part of the party organ and that of the commission, the committee would have been called to Order in a “jiffy and free the Party from their Pettifogging and selfish bickering’’.
“But we have in the interest of the Party, sat in the middle, whilst we explore ways and means of settling the dispute. In the interim, we look forward to you relating with the commission, with due deference, finesse and respect,” the commission said.
But Conteh was seen being interviewed by the State Broadcaster the same Wednesday in which he accused the PPRC of being part of the problem they were having as a committee.
He said that the PPRC would send in correspondences to the IGTC and would send the same to the Secretary, noting that at the end of the day, they were expecting to receive two replies.
“They don’t have to send in two statements in a single committee that is solely run by the IGTC. The court ruling only referred to the Chairman of the Committee,” he said.
The IGTC Chairman stated that the PPRC has made it clear to them that they don’t have powers to regulate the committee since it was created by a court decision and can only do so if the committee wanted that.
He also accused the Commission of receiving documents from somebody he referred to not be part of the judgment that came out of the court.
The PPRC was established by Section 34(1) of the 1991 Constitution and charged with the responsibility of supervising and monitoring the activities of Political Parties in the country.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online (18/11/22)
