The Much-expected 2022 and 2023 elections may be postponed owing to the prevalence of Corona Virus in Sierra Leone. 2024 could be the date in which the elections would take place instead of 2022 and 2023.
The move to postpone the elections in 2024 was begun by the ruling party in May last year. Government earlier issued a press release that instead of elections taking place in 2022 and 2023, they would be postponed to 2024 as the virus still threatens the country.
In a counter press release by the diplomatic community, government’s move was halted. International community says the elections must be held in 2022 and 2023. The proposed postponement which was halted few months back has reared its head again.
Others say, the international community may be taken off-guard as officials of inter-governmental organisations are not permitted to interfere with member states’ internal affairs.
According to the electoral calendar, local council elections and general elections are expected to take place in 2022 and 2023 respectively. Effort to reach PPRC (Political Parties Registration Commission), the country’s regulator of political parties failed.
A reliable source however told this press that it would be difficult for elections to be held in 2022 and 2023. He said the hikes in the cases of Corona virus was creating fear in government to go ahead with the elections according to normal calendar.
“Third Wave or Delta Variant is very dangerous. It is wreaking havoc all over the world,” he said.
The source further maintained that countries that finance elections are hard hit by the virus. He said the United States, UK, Germany, China among others are still grappling with the virus. He went on to state that Germany and China are not only affected by the pandemic but also floods that lately broke out in the two countries.
In what appears a justification of the postponement, the source made reference to the outbreak of Ebola Virus between 2014 and 2016. Multi-tier Elections, he went on, which were supposed to be held in 2017 were postponed to 2018.
“Although Ebola Virus ended in 2016, the situation at that time was not favourable for elections in 2017,” the source said.
Arguing from an economic viewpoint, he further argued that it would be better for government to hold elections in 2024 than in 2022 and 2023. He said Sierra Leone’s economy has been badly hit, making it hard for elections to take place.
Although international community, to a large extent, funds elections, government too shares the burden. However, arguments about Corona Virus have been countered by some members of the public.
A member of the main opposition, APC (All People’s Congress), Ibrahim Bangura does not accept the move to cancel elections owing to Corona Virus.
Bangura who has been a teacher and activist for years is fighting to clinch an APC symbol. He is sure to contest elections in a constituency in PortLoko district. Bangura argues that United States where Corona Virus causes more deaths than in Sierra Leone have held elections.
“If America conducts elections, why not Sierra Leone,” Bangura inquired. Apart from the prevalence of the virus, political parties especially the two main political parties (SLPP and APC) have shown little readiness to participate in the elections of 2022 and 2023.
The two parties are badly affected by intra-party conflicts as members struggle for leadership posts. In the SLPP, archrivalry for the chairmanship is creating conflicts by rival groups thus placing the party at risk of falling apart.
The party’s Chairman, Dr Prince Harding eyes the post while Batilo Songa and others equally run for it. SLPP has recently held its lower level elections in various districts and constituencies for a new executive.
However, there are other parts in the country in which elections are yet to be conducted. Stabbings, deaths and death threats among party members are not uncommon.
Police stations are inundated with incidents of politically-related murders and physical assaults in the party.
An SLPP youth was allegedly stabbed to death by a colleague member of the party in the eastern district of Kenema during elections. Police are still investigating the incident.
A recent political conflict in Kenema also left the party’s district Secretary-General hospitalised. The conflict broke out over contest for control and distribution of party membership cards in the district. SLPP office in Kenema was sealed off by security personnel.
For days, no business was transacted there. SLPP headquaters on Wallace Johnson Street in Freetown is no difference. Almost invariably, APC also is embroiled in intra-party conflicts that spell doom for the party’s future in the elections.
Since it went out of governance, APC has been characterised by disagreements among its ranks and peers. The disagreements have repeatedly landed the party in court. NRM (National Reformation Movement) and ARM have repeatedly dragged the party to court over arrangements and structures that they do not agree with.
Most of these matters have been laid to rest. Other waves of Litigations and lawsuits also await the party if fair play does not prevail.
APC is yet to settle for peace since Appeals Court handed down a verdict requiring the current executive to make way for a new one. The executive of former President Ernest Bai Koroma is long overdue, and members call for their exit.
Its existence is illegal, and most APC members have called on the Chairman and Leader to step aside. Others say the former President is in no mood to continue his chairmanship. He is ready to step down, but must be given a “befitting exit.”
In most of his public appearances, the former President always says “I am tired; I want to go.”
But, some APC stalwarts have taken a position that he would go out only through a convention as he came in through the same model. Other members of the party now shy away from attending most of the party’s activities because of thuggery and violence.
In February last year, APC issued a timeline of political activities including a convention where a presidential candidate would have been elected. The convention was slated for May, this year, but did not take place owing to conflicts.
Top party members yesterday converged in the northern capital of Makeni to choose a day for the adoption of the reviewed constitution and a convention. The meeting occurred under the auspices of former President Ernest Bai Koroma.
As intra-party conflicts and COVID-19 continue, fears are rife that the elections would be postponed, and Sierra Leoneans wait to see when.