SLPP may postpone national conference

There appears to be some disagreement within the opposition Sierra Leone People’s Party which may force a postponement of their national delegates’ conference scheduled for 16 – 17 August. It is over a series of complaints filed to the Political Parties Registration Commission by some aggrieved members of the party over the conduct of some of the lower level elections in Bombali and Port Loko districts, as well as in parts of the Western Area. The spokesman of the PPRC, Lucien Momoh says the commission will give a decision later this week on the complaints which he says border on accusations and counter-accusations by and against some SLPP members over the conduct of some of the constituency and district elections, as well as alleged interference with the process. A lawyer told Politico that if the PPRC ruled for a re-run of the elections in those contested areas, it would affect the date of the national delegates’ conference which could only hold after all lower level elections had taken place. The Secretary General of the party, SulaimanBanjaTejan-Sie told Politico that he planned to convene a meeting of the National Executive Council which notice would go out “very soon”. He said that if the national delegates’ conference must be put off, that would have to be decided by the NEC which he said was the sole authority with such a mandate. © Politico 23/07/13