The largest opposition party in Sierra Leone has said it will not participate in any level of governance in the country.
The largest opposition party in Sierra Leone has said that it will not participate in any level of governance in the country.
It said this includes the parliament to local councils as a result of what it called “fraudulent” presidential election results.
President Julius Maada Bio was re-elected for a second term with 56.17% of the vote in the first round of voting.
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This is according to electoral commission results issued on Tuesday, which have been challenged by the opposition and local organisations.
Analysis Of International Observers
International observers observed “statistical inconsistencies” in the preliminary and final results.
They denounced “the lack of transparency” in the vote count, and called for constructive discussions to settle differences.
The opposition All People’s Congress (APC), led by Samura Kamara, who finished second with 41.16% of the vote, declared late Friday that it will not allow “injustice, tyranny, and usurpation of power in Sierra Leone.
“The APC declared its intention to withdraw from all levels of government, including the legislature and local councils.
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“The results have already been tampered with in order to give the SLPP an unjust majority at all levels, the statement added, referring to Bio’s Sierra Leone People’s Party.
APC Decision On The Results
“The APC categorically rejects the announced results… given the obvious irregularities and violations of established electoral procedures, it added.
“It issued a list of requests, including the resignation of the election commissioners, accusing them of “bias and failure to carry out their responsibilities impartially.”
The party demanded that the election be redone within six months.
It further stated that the election be overseen by credible individuals and institutions who will ensure a fair and transparent process.
The party requested the resignation of many officials and urged international partners to impose travel bans on a dozen powerful figures, including the President.
It referred to the current administration as a “dictatorship” that is “usurping power”.
According to the APC, the final results reported do not correlate to the total number of votes cast at each polling station.
The results of the local and legislative elections, which were held on the same day a week ago, will be announced this weekend.
APC has warned against similar anomalies in Freetown’s election results, where the outgoing mayor is a popular opposition figure.
The election was generally peaceful.
However, the National Security Bureau, a government organization in charge of homeland security, has warned that the alternative results announced by civil society organizations.
They faulted the “lack of transparency” condemned in a joint statement by six Western diplomats, could have “harmful consequences” and “unjustified tension.”
