By Saio Marrah
The Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC) has banned all street rallies by political parties in the upcoming 2023 electioneering process.
The commission in its press release dated 3rd April this year stated that the decision came after a meeting held on the 27th of March 2023, with all registered political parties, election management bodies, the security sector, and other stakeholders in the electioneering process.
The meeting was said to have focused on two key issues “evaluate the essence of street rallies” and “discuss the requirements political parties are to meet, to enable them effectively execute the third limb of the purpose for their establishment,…which is to sponsor candidates for presidential, parliamentary and local council elections.”
The meeting reportedly concluded that political parties will be required to assemble and conduct their campaigns in designated areas with appropriate security coverage and electoral management bodies. The security sector actors are to develop guidelines on the enforcement of the ban with the view of ensuring fairness and parity of interest.
The regulatory body affirmed that it has also agreed that government makes available appropriate state infrastructure to all political parties with no cost for the conduct of their campaigns.
On the justification of the banning of street rallies, the commission pointed out that ‘over the years street rallies have occasioned immeasurable hardship on the peace-loving people of this country.’
The commission said the obstruction of peace includes the threatening of public safety, public peace, and public morality, and infringement on the fundamental rights of others that include the right to life.
PPRC also cited the ‘unfortunate’ death in Tonko Limba, the attack on the person and property of a political opponent in constituency 110, the ‘debasing’ obscenities in Koinadugu, Samaya Bendugu and among others, which the commission also linked to street rallies.
The press release further noted that street rallies inculcate regional and tribal slurs, hate speech, and ‘intemperate’ languages by some political parties and their ‘attack dogs’ on social media, which the commission said has rendered the politics very toxic. The political regulatory body also noted that street rallies also lead to widespread tension.
After pointing out that electioneering periods are not time for dancing and merriment, but instead a time for deep reflections and evaluation of politicians, PPRC observed that politicians have overtime ‘ effectively used those street circuses, to blur the thought process of the electorate, particularly the young ones by the use of narcotics and other intoxicants.’
The commission added that as a result, the young folks as they get to the campaign designations in drunken apathy are completely devoid of any intellect, to comprehend the message (if any) from their candidates.
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