By Ragan Conteh
The Executive Director of Citizens Advocacy Network (CAN), Thomas Moore Conteh and the Executive Director Legal Link, Rashid Dumbuya, have told journalists at a press briefing held in Freetown over the weekend that they would seek to have the decision of the National Electoral Commission overturned by the Supreme Court of Sierra Leone if the Commission fails to reverse the cancellation of results in the recently conducted bye-election held in Constituency 110 on 24th August, 2019.
The civil society organizations say the decision of NEC Chairman, N’fa Alie Conteh, violates the fundamental human rights of thousands of electorates in that Constituency.
Speaking to the media, the Executive Director of Citizen Advocacy Network (CAN), Thomas Moore noted that the unfortunate incident undermines the integrity and credibility of the electoral process.
Mr.Conteh told journalists that NEC however failed to cite any law in their press statement of 25th August, 2019 that aptly supports their decision to cancel the results of the said election.
Civil Society Organizations, the civil society activist disclosed, are entrusted with the responsibility of defending the fundamental human rights, rule of law and democratic good governance in Sierra Leone.
CAN and Legal Link have also called for the resignation or sacking of the Chief Electoral Commissioner and National Returning Officer, N’fa Alie Conteh.
They entreated NEC to carry out its electoral functions with a deep sense of cosmic responsibility, fair play and independence.
The Commission of Enquiry has also called on the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone to conduct a public inquiry to uncover the true causes of the violence and make strong recommendations that will help in the protection of fundamental human rights, especially the right to vote and be voted for in public elections.