By Mohamed Vandi in Kenema
Vice President Samuel Sam-Sumana on Tuesday assured supporters of his All People’s Congress Party at the Kenema Town field that there would be no room for a run-off in the November 17 polls.
He said President Ernest Bai Koroma would have a clean sweep on first ballot, which means gaining 55% or above of the votes.
He said the APC's five-year rule had succeeded in implementing several development activities throughout the country, adding that he was confident Sierra Leoneans would endorse the continuation of that by voting for President Koroma again “to continue the good things”.
Sam-Sumana said the President’s “Agenda for Prosperity” encompassed every facet of development needed to upgrade the standard of living of Sierra Leoneans. He called on the people to support the aspirations of the president and vote for the APC and avoid violence throughout the electoral process.
He said his government respected human rights, boasting that throughout the 5-year reign of the APC no journalists had been arrested or jailed and that his party would continue to maintain a harmonious relationship with the media.
Party supporters later rallied through the principal streets of Kenema without incident despite provocative songs directed at the SLPP leadership.
The SLPP District Chairman in Kenema, Arthur Koroma was quick to dismiss the claims of the vice president when contacted by Politico. He said “the APC is a weak party and shall never dream of winning an election never mind in the first round”. He said the APC did not even know what a referendum meant. He alleged that what the APC called a crowd of people at their rally were people ferried in from outside the city whom he said were enticed with cash and T-shirt to participate in their rally. He claimed Kenema was 98% SLPP and that would come to light when they go to the polls.
(c) Politico 25 October 2012
