By Nasratu Kargbo
Sierra Leone’s main opposition Party, the All People’s Congress (APC) has in a press statement expressed the party’s position of not participating in Legislative and Local governance if fresh elections were not conducted within six months.
The statement dated 30th June 2023, came three days after President Julius Maada Bio had been announced as winner of the June 2023 presidential elections in Sierra Leone and sworn in.
“The APC declares its non-participation in any level of governance, including the legislature and local councils, as the results have already been tampered with to give the SLPP an unjust majority at all levels” a part of the statement reads.
The party in their release stated that they want a rerun of the election which should be done within six months and should be conducted by credible individuals and institutions, who according to the release will ensure a transparent and fair process.
It added that the party rejects the results due to the many irregularities and violations of the electoral procedures, demanding that the Chief Electoral Commissioner Mohamed Konneh and other commissioners should resign because they are described as being “biased in the execution of their duty.”
“The stance of the APC in the last few days should not be mistaken as an acceptance of this obnoxious announcement of illegal electoral result, but was an opportunity to document evidence and avoid falling into a mindless trap of violence that had been planned by this monstrous regime,” it stated, adding that “They have not only tried to steal the presidential election, but also are working assiduously to give the SLPP a 2/3 majority in parliament, and take a comfortable lead in local councils across the country.”
The Party through their release demanded the resignation of heads of certain institutions such as the Sierra Leone Police (SLP), the Chief of Defence Staff, and the Chief Justice amongst others, stating that they’ve shown disregard for their constitutional duties. It stated that the party expresses sympathy to their people who lost their loved ones, property, and livelihood, stating that they will ensure they seek justice for them
Party after the announcement of the results had earlier questioned the result of the election, the APC Candidate Dr. Samura Mathew Wilson Kamara on his verified Facebook page and Twitter accounts rejected the results, referring to the announcement as an attack on the country’s democracy.
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