By Nasratu Kargbo
Speaker of Parliament Abass Chernor Bundu has instructed the clerk of parliament to inform the National Electoral Commission (NEC) about two empty parliamentary seats for which elections must be conducted.
Constituency 056 in Tonkolili District is part of the two seats that have been declared vacant by the Speaker. This follows the high court ruling which validated the then MP, Musa Foray Bamba Jalloh as a paramount chief of Sambaia. As such, the constituency is expected to elect a new MP to represent them in parliament in the near future.
Bundu used section 76 of the 1991 constitution which specifically speaks on “Disqualification for membership of parliament”and Section 76 subsection (1) paragraph (f) that says “if in the case of the election of such member as is referred to in paragraph (b) of subsection 1 of section 74, he is for the time being a paramount chief under any law”
The Speaker added that “in accordance with these provisions, it is now my duty to declare constituency 056 vacant”.
The former MP’s election as paramount chief was marred by controversies that led to court actions resulting in the suspension of his winning until the court recently approved him fit to take the seat. Opposition MPs had long raised concerns that the speaker declared the seat empty since the then MP had already opted for the chieftaincy position. But the speaker declined their demands saying that the seat cannot be declared empty until a ruling is made on the pending court case.
PC Jalloh is now duly recognized by President Julius Maada Bio as the Paramount Chief after he was recently crowned by him among others. He was the only SLPP MP in the Northern district of Tonkolili. Many believe the contest is going to be a tough contest between the opposition All Peoples Party and the ruling Sierra Leone Peoples Party.
Constituency 005 in Kailahun is also expected to get a new MP. The constituency had recently lost their MP through and therefore would have to elect another MP to represent them in the house.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online (04/03/22)
