By Ragan M. Conteh
Nine, out of ten candidates contesting the Sanda Magborlothor Chiefdom, have expressed grave frustration over the cancellation of the chieftaincy elections slated for Friday 6th November 2020. This is in spite of all the monies candidates have spent in preparation for the elections.
According to the candidates, they are not satisfied with the manner in which the government, through NEC, has acted.
Tens of thousands of people converged in the Chiefdom since Wednesday 5th November 2020, when the news broke out that the election had been cancelled.
“This is frustrating, mind burgling. It pains me that we have been subjected to a situation where some of us do not trust the process. All the 10 candidates have gone through the chieftaincy elections protocols, but the reason (s) for the cancellation, at the eleventh hour, is still confusing,” one of the Kamara Ruling House candidates said.
They said the chiefdom authorities, especially the Traditional Authorities, have also converged at the Chiefdom headquarters of Sendugu, ready to cast their votes for the candidate of their choice.
Some of the supporters, of various candidates, ran tears considering the huge expenses candidates have incurred in preparation for the election. Some say the cancellation is done because there is some alleged political interest trying to manipulate the election process to suit their interest.
“This action, taken by the government to cancel the election, is disheartening,” Isatu Kamara, another candidate, said.
The government has been depriving this community, especially so when farming activities are ongoing. She added that Sanda Magborlothor Chiefdom people are presently under intense harvesting of their rice farms.
“We expect the government, especially NEC, to conduct the election, and that everyone may challenge the outcome of the elections. Our people are suffering as a result of this postponement of the election. We want this over now,” Isatu said.
Another candidate, Abubakarr Issa Sesay, said the way and manner they were treated by the National Electoral Commission is unfortunate and the cancellation of the election mind burgling.
“Just at the peak of elections last week, NEC went to the chiefdom, announcing, village by village, that the election, slated on Friday 6th November 2020, had been cancelled. They never consulted us before the cancellation. TAs are ready, the Chiefdom is now at a standstill. Our people want to harvest their rice farms. This has caused a serious setback to the chiefdom,” he complained.
According to Abubakarr Issa Sesay, their election is not controversial as all the ten candidates are members of legitimate ruling houses.
“Some, of our late fathers and grandfathers, have contested twice for the same chieftaincy. The cancellation of the election is retrogressive to our chiefdom,” another candidate fumed.
Alhaji Osman Sesay of Kinthor Ruling House also vied for the same chieftaincy. He said the cancellation has created more problems.
“We are going to ask questions. Why must a single candidate take us aback, after all NEC have satisfied all the candidates for the elections?”
Umaru Abdulai Sesay, from the Kinthor House, said he believes one of their colleagues has taken NEC to court, adding that even though they have spent huge resources they were going to follow the due process of the law.
All the candidates who converged at the Chiefdom headquarters of Sendugu have described the cancellation of the election as ploy to hold the Chiefdom from progressing. They called on NEC to put a short date for the conduct of the election.
Section Chiefs of the Chiefdom have all expressed dismay for the protracted chieftaincy election delay, which has created a lot of problems in the Chiefdom in recent times.
Information from NEC have intimated this medium that the cancellation of the election, slated for past Friday, at Sanda Magbonlothor Chiefdom, is due to the fact that one of the candidates, Mr. Dauda Sesay, took NEC and his colleague candidates to court, accusing them of not being legitimate members of ruling houses in the Chiefdom. However, the conduct of the election had been put on hold until the issue was ratified by law.
But the question many keep asking is, this same candidate man was present on the day of declaration, why didn’t he raise that issue then except day at the peak of elections?