By Allieu S. Tunkara
“On election day, we will observe the opening, the voting, the closing, the counting and the result management process,” says Professor Yemi Osinbajo, head of the Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) for Sierra Leone’s June-24 elections.
Prof Osinbajo made the the statement yesterday in a press conference held at Raddison Blu hotel in Freetown. The COG Chief who is also Nigeria’s immediate former Vice President will be leading a team of 12 distinguished election observers to observe the upcoming multi-tier elections.
The 12 observers have vast knowledge in law, human rights, media, gender, diplomacy and election administration among others.
They will provide an independent assessment of whether the elections have been conducted in a credible manner.
An interim report, Prof Osinbanjo said, would be issued to give a general picture of the elections. “We will issue an interim statement on our preliminary findings 26th June before the final report will be prepared and submitted to the Commonwealth Secretary-General,” the COG lead told the press. Prof Osinbanjo also made it clear that their presence in Sierra Leone represents Commonwealth’s unwavering support to the country’s democratic processes.
The future of this country, he said, was in the hands of the people of Sierra Leone, but warned that violence could not play any part in the electoral process. He took the minds of Sierra Leoneans to the country’s armed conflict which claimed the lives of thousands of Sierra Leoneans.
He warned against creating the conditions for the repetition of such violence. “The tragic loss of lives and livelihoods cannot be allowed to repeat here in Sierra Leone,” Prof Osinbajo cautioned.
He called on members, supporters and sympathisers of various political parties to yield to the commitment of the electoral pledge for a free, fair and credible elections signed by political parties barely two weeks ago.
He also urged political parties to work towards a peaceful and credible electoral process in June 24, this year. Like EU, the Commonwealth has been observing elections in Sierra Leone since 1996 when Sierra Leone returned to multi-party democracy.
The inter-governmental agency also observed the 2002, 2007, 2012 and 2018 presidential and parliamentary elections. Apart from observing elections, Commonwealth also played key role in the restoration of peace, law and order in post-war Sierra Leone.
The organisation’s role in the Sierra Leone Police reform project through CCSSP (Commonwealth Community Safety and Security Project) continues to linger on the minds of many Sierra Leoneans.
This time, the Commonwealth representatives are here again to contribute to peace by observing the 2023 elections and making sure that the process if fair and credible.