ECSL (Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone) boss, Mohamed Konneh says he will not go for a second term after his tenure expires next year.
“I will not go for a second term after my tenure expires,” Mohamed Konneh assures Sierra Leoneans although it is unclear whether he would stick to the promise.
Although such declaration comes too late, a cross section of the people welcomes his move owing to the deteriorating security and political situation.
Konneh’s move to step down after his tenure is also seen as a response to the call by the opposition leader, Samura Kamara before the June 24, 2023 multi-tier elections owing to clear signs that the polls would not be free and fair. In a press briefing at New Brookfields hotel in June, last year, Dr Samura Kamara urged ECSL and his commissioners to step aside so that Sierra Leoneans could have transparent and credible electoral process.
Konneh is under fire as the President who he announces winner of the June polls is not ready to step down even if the investigation committee recommends that Bio did not win the election.
The grassroot members have constantly threatened to protest against ECSL and the government of Sierra Leone if their votes are not counted.
They demand a rerun, fresh election or Dr Samura Kamara declared President of Sierra Leone owing to claims that he is winner of the elections as shown by the RRFs (Result Reconciliation Forms) submitted by the APC team.
If the masses fail to reach him by way of protest, the long arm of the law will reach him. Konneh risks indictment owing to allegations of playing a lead role in undermining elections and democracy in Sierra Leone.
The ICC (International Criminal Court) has hoisted its flag in Sierra Leone with the flame of justice burning again, a sign that those who steal the votes will not be beyond the reach of justice.
Sierra Leone is a signatory to charters and treaties that seek to protect democracy and good governance all over the world. The country also has strong laws particularly the constitution of Sierra Leone and the Public Elections Act, 2022 which frown at election rigging.
The election boss, Konneh heads ECSL, a body mandated by law to conduct and supervise all public elections and referenda in Sierra Leone. In the discharge of his duties, the ECSL boss is expected to show neutrality since he is not subject to the direction or control of any person or authority.
But, the ECSL boss, according to facts emanating from the election probe, failed to exhibit such quality as he tilted the scale in favour of the ruling party creating chaos in the political landscape.
Mohamed Konneh did not state any reason for announcing such decision but such could not be divorced from the lingering post-election stalemate for which he is under pressure. Mohamed Konneh has been in hot waters owing to allegations of rigging the June 24, 2023 election in favour of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP).
He announced the incumbent, President Julius Maada Bio winner of the elections instead of Dr Samura Kamara who many said won the election in a clean sweep.
Revelations at the Tripartite Committee show that Samura Kamara got over 57 percent of the total votes putting an end to speculation that there would be a run off.
Grassroot members expect smooth political transition from SLPP to APC.
As Samura Kamara’s victory has attracted local and global attention, Konneh’s integrity is at an all-time low rating and his safety at stake for announcing a candidate whose victory is still a bone of contention.
Despite local and international pressure, the election boss has reportedly failed to submit the election results to the investigators throughout the six-month mandate to ascertain the actual winner.
He was also accused of failing to clarify the 60 percent results submitted to the Tripartite Committee especially to disaggregate the votes by polling stations and districts for thorough examination.
Recently, an assessment team of ECOWAS (Economic Community Of West African States) and African Union was in Sierra Leone to see how far the election investigation has fared on. In a meeting with the assessment team, it was reported that the ECSL boss called for another 10 days to come up with the disaggregated data, but many say it would be difficult for ECSL chief to accomplish such mission as many said he did not have the results. As it stands, Konneh will not publish the actual results as he fears a treason charge.
This is the first time an election boss has failed to show the results after an election as the electoral process was shrouded in secrecy at all stages.
According to political observers, Mohamed Konneh started the alleged rigging by printing sub-standard and faceless voter identity cards, manipulating the electoral laws, borrowing boxes from neighbouring Guinea after getting millions of dollars from the international community particularly the European Union to hold free and fair elections.
Printing of faceless voter identity cards created voter apathy as many did not take part in the electoral process.
The electoral laws were also manipulated to confer an edge on the ruling party over the main opposition, All People’s Congress. In 2022, ECSL boss championed the passage of four new laws particularly the Proportional Representation (PR) which replaced the constituency-based system of voting for Parliamentarians.
Although the PR system was not called for according to section 38(a) of the Constitutional Amendment Act, 2001, the ECSL boss saw it through so that SLPP could have more seats than APC in parliament.
According to arguments made by Dr Abdulai Conteh, one of Africa’s most respected lawyers, the PR system is applicable to a situation where a date for an election has been announced but there are no constituencies.
However, Sierra Leone had constituencies by the time June 24, 2023 was set aside as the date for the election.
Dr Conteh’s legal opinion also holds that the power to change the format of an election is a matter of primary legislation by parliament, the supreme law-making body and not rules and regulations formulated and pronounced by ECSL. Such act, he said, is an usurpation of the powers of parliament.
The PR model was used in Sierra Leone’s 1996 and 2002 general elections when several communities were under rebel control.
But, the country reverted to the constituency system since 2007 elections except 2023 which took Sierra Leone back to the old system to put SLPP in a comfortable lead.
The tampering of electoral laws just year to the election raises huge controversy at ECOWAS parliament with law makers arguing that the rules could not be changed at the middle of the game.
Despite endless criticisms, Konneh pressed ahead with the unpopular PR model, a situation that has landed Sierra Leone in a political quagmire with authorities scratching their heads for solution.
Konneh’s move to borrow election boxes from neigbouring Guinea after getting enough funds from the international community also raised questions of corruption in the electoral process.
Analysts also argue that Konneh’s controversial and illegal manner of appointment was a recipe for election rigging as he was brought in to embark on a presidential bidding for Bio. At the time he took charge of ECSL, Konneh was a public officer heading the Financial Intelligence Unit in the Ministry of Finance, a post that disqualified him from holding the post of ECSL boss.
Political parties were also not consulted as provided by the constitution, a situation which indicates that Konneh was imposed on the people of Sierra Leone. Now, it is time to step down after holding what many describe as the worst elections in history.