By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
The Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC) has in a letter addressed to the Secretary of the Interim Transition Governance Committee (ITGC) of the All Peoples Congress Party (APC) dated 14th February, 2023, warned them to desist from using vulgar and unprintable invectives.
The letter quoted section 39 sub-sections 1c&d of the PPRC Act 2022 which warns political parties to refrain from using profane and obscene language or provocative songs against political opponents. The same section also cautions against the use of incendiary and inciting statements, including hate speech against political opponents.
The commission quoted section 40 sub-section1which explained that, a political party, including its candidates, officials, members and supporters or an independent candidate, wishing to contest a public election shall be bound to observe the Code of Conduct prescribed in the Second Schedule.
The PPRC in the letter mentioned to a video that has gone viral on social media, which contents are said to portray a very ‘profane and obscene’ song, with ‘vulgarity and unprintable invectives’, directed at President Julius Maada Bio and his wife, the First Lady of the Republic.
It was reported that, the song was sung and danced to during the declaration of Dr. Samura Kamara, for the flag bearership position of the APC Party in Makeni, on the 12th February, 2023.
The Commission affirmed that, aside from Bio being the President of the Republic, he is also the Presidential Candidate designate, for the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP), in the upcoming June 24th 2023 presidential elections and thus falls within the meaning of the word "opponent", in the PPRC Act of 2022. It also stated that, the party contravenes the aforementioned sections in the Act by allowing that song to be played in their event.
“The song does not only contravene the said provisions of the Act, but it also corrupts public morals,” the letter reads.
The Commission therefore warned members, supporters and Candidates of the APC to desist from what they referred to as ‘unwholesome conduct’.
The PPRC further reminded the party of the other sanctions prescribed in the Act, which it said shall not hesitate to invoke, in the event it persists, notwithstanding this warning. It called on everyone not to allow actions or inactions to bequeath such vices to the children.
The commission ended by encouraging candidates and aspiring candidates of all political parties, to show leadership and respect for the offices they are aspiring to, by admonishing their supporters, to desist from such indecent and unlawful conduct.
Copyright © 2023 Politico Online (15/02/23)
