By Ralph Sesay
Close sources from both the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party have intimated this press that fifty three members from both parties -21 from the APC and 32 from the SLPP – may not take part in the election of the Speaker and deputy Speaker of Parliament slated for Tuesday the 24th April, 2018.
The sources furthered that lawyers for both parties have presented petitions on the said elected members of Parliament for the APC and the SLPP. The court is expected to hear both arguments and give a ruling on whether these MPs would be eligible or not to serve in the House for the next five years.
The newly appointed Clerk of Parliament, Mr. Umar Paran Tarawally, has however stated that they have not been duly informed of any petition against any MP and so, according to him, all 146 Members of Parliament are liable to take the oath of office and also participate in the elections slated for Tuesday, today.
“We will only act on this if we get instructions from the court, but as of now we have not received any order concerning the petition of Members of Parliament,” Mr. Tarawally noted.
In another development, Parliament will also decide, in close consultations with all political parties in Parliament, later today, on which nomenclatures they would adopt to address the new Minority Leader and Leader of Government Business in Parliament.
According to Mr. Cyril Juxon Smith, Head of Communications, House of Parliament, the present configuration of Parliament, in which the main opposition has the majority of seats, for the first time in the history of Parliament, has posed a challenge for them as administrators to review the current nomenclatures they were using before, such as Minority Leader and Leader of Government Business, etc., so as to meet the current realities and composition of the House.
“We will dialogue with the political parties leaders in Parliament and agree on a model which we will adopt to fit into the present configuration of the House,“ Mr. Smith concluded.
It could be recalled that Parliament will today administer the oath of office to MPs and also conduct elections for the Speaker and deputy Speaker.
The incumbent Speaker of the House, Hon. S.B.B. Dumbuya of the main opposition APC and his deputy and former running mate of the party, Chernor Ramadan Maju Bah, will face diplomat and veteran politician, Dr. Abass Bundu of the ruling SLPP and Hon. Segepoh Thomas of Constituency 89 in Moyamba District.
Earlier in the week, veteran APC politician and journalist, Ibrahim Ben Kargbo of Constituency 34, Bombali District, was selected Majority Leader of the House by the main opposition APC, while second term MP, Side Tunis of Constituency 101 in Bo District, was selected as Minority Leader by the SLPP.
The position of Chief Whip went to Dickson Rogers of Constituency 100 in Pujehun District. Former Mayor of Koidu New Sembehun Council, Emerson Lamina, Hon Shiaka Sama and Independent Member of Parliament for Constituency 104, in the south, and Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella were elected as Heads of the Coalition for Change, Independent candidates and the National Grand Coalition parties in Parliament.