By Alpha Abu
The Supreme Court of Sierra Leone is expected to give ruling today Friday on whether the next General Elections slated for June should be conducted using the Proportional Representation system.
The matter was taken to court by main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) Parliamentarian, Abdul Kargbo and Councilor Hakiratu Maxwell-Caulker as plaintiffs.
Chief Justice Babatunde Edwards and the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL) are the defendants in the case.
Justice Edwards and four other judges-Nicholas Browne-Marke, Alusine Sesay, Mangeh Deen Tarawallie all of the Supreme Court, and Court of Appeal Judge Ansumana Ivan Sesay who was approved to join the panel, will decide the outcome of the litigation.
The APC and some Civil Society Organisations have from the onset voiced their dissent over such a form of voting that was propounded by President Julius Maada Bio, giving the ECSL the directive for its introduction at this year’s polls.
Opponents say the time was too short for the PR system and that the process used to introduce it was flawed. They say it best suits situations where there are challenges like conflicts or national emergencies that limit movements and accessibility. Some even said it will make political parties more powerful as they would have to determine which candidates they can send to represent them in Parliament based on the percentage of votes earned in the polls.
Supporters of the system on the other hand argue that it is less expensive and would reduce the likelihood of electoral violence. The last time Sierra Leone conducted elections under the PR system was in 2002.
Sierra Leoneans will vote on the 24th June.
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