𝐂𝐒𝐎𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐧 𝐀𝐏𝐂 – Global Times

Members of the Civil Society Coalition for Community Accountability and Service Delivery have accused some members of the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) of not telling the truth about the working of the tripartite commission.
They accused some diplomats of playing dual roles for the two main political parties, the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the All People’s Congress (APC), in the commission’s work.
The National Coordinator, William Sao-Lamin, at a press conference at the prestigious Sierra Palms Hotel at Lumley Beach in Freetown at the weekend, said while government representatives on the committee were busy explaining the scope and mandate of the committee, APC members were busy raising the hopes of their members for a fresh presidential election in June 2023.
He stressed that the purpose of the commission was to review all laws governing elections with a view to improving future elections, noting that only the Supreme Court of Sierra Leone had the power to declare election results invalid, not the tripartite commission.
He said: “The commission does not have any authority to recommend the re-run of the 2023 presidential election or the removal of ECSL commissioners, contrary to what APC supporters are preaching.’’ He said the coalition was gravely concerned over the APC party’s decision to suspend its participation in the commission days before the end of its work.
He pointed out that some diplomats made different statements against the two political parties and ordinary people, which had a tendency to undermine peace and stability in the country.
He said the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL) commissioners held a five-hour meeting with members of the commission to discuss several issues.
He stressed that “any dissatisfaction with the election results should follow due process, including appeal to the Supreme Court under Section 45(2) A, B and C.”
Sholamin stressed that the work of the Commission does not involve re-elections, adding that they were tasked with reviewing the 2023, 2018, 2012 and 2007 elections and making recommendations to improve and guide future elections. He accused the APC delegation in the Commission of misleading its supporters that the June 2023 elections would be re-run. He said that the government, on the other hand, had done a lot to make the people aware of the truth behind the formation of the Commission. He called on the people of Sierra Leone to remain calm and not let any politician mislead them.
In his remarks, the coalition’s spokesperson, Moses S. Mambu, said the commission’s job was not to audit the results of the elections but to review all laws and make recommendations for improvements in future elections. He said the APC team on the commission had given unclear messages to supporters while the government, for its part, had made it clear that there would be no re-elections. Mambu pleaded with people to carry on as normal, adding that the police had not given permission for any person or group to demonstrate. “Sierra Leone belongs to everyone, not just one group,” he said.
David Koroma of the Civil Society Coalition for Public Accountability, on his part, accused the government and the APC of failing to inform the public about the work of the commission. He said if they had done so earlier, the situation today would be different. He said the commission should have spoken with one voice and delivered one message so that people would know exactly what was happening and not what was happening now. David called on politicians not to burden the people as they are going through a lot