Election for the presidency of the Sierra Leone Bar Association (SLBA), an umbrella body for legal practitioners, has ended in a big fiasco in the same way as the June 24, 2023 general election.
The defeated candidates, Wara Serry Kamal and Augustine Marrah have condemned the electoral and called for a rerun the same way, the opposition leader of the main opposition, All People’s Congress (APC) has rejected the result of the June polls and called for a re-count and rerun. Both elections are marred in marked irregularities that render the process a mere sham.
The wife of Sierra Leone’s business magnate, Tuma Gento Jabbie Kamara who many say maintains close ties with the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) was declared winner of the polls instead of her main challenger, Wara Serry Kamal, another firebrand legal practitioner. The latter enjoyed more polarity than the former.
Currently, Wara Kamara does not recognise the results saying “no election has taken place” insisting on a rerun.
It is not yet clear whether there could be another election as the winners have been recognised by the new executive.
In a press briefing held yesterday at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown, the defeated candidates, Wara and Marrah maintained their stance of not recognising and working with the new SLBA’s executive until the election is reviewed and the right candidate determined. They have appealed to several agencies to ensure that electoral sanity is restored in the Bar Association.
Augustine is also said to have landed a letter on the desk of the Chief Justice, head of Sierra Leone’s judiciary about the allegedly flawed election calling for a critical examination of their role in upholding democracy.
The legal advocate argues that “the judiciary failed to facilitate a fair process for the legal practitioners who sought an audience with the leadership of the Bar Association.”
He also pointed out systemic failure within the judiciary to uphold justice and democratic principles echoing historical criticisms captured in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission reports of 2004.
Despite tough criticisms of the election, the losing candidates have turned down calls to form a new association, but they will not waver nor fail or falter in their struggle to retrieve stolen votes.
However, jubilation and ecstasy gains ground in the winning camp as Sierra Leone’s first Lady, Fatima Jabbie Bio was spotted gracefully dancing with the controversial winner, Tuma Jabbie.
The public backlash against the body of lawyers also remain strong calling on the disenfranchised group to form another association as it was the case with the Women in the Media Sierra Leone (WiMSAL).
WiMSAL, a subset of Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, held an election that led to the creation of another wing, SLAWiJ (Sierra Leone Association of Women in Journalism).
The formation another Bar Association could be the surest option at the moment if SLBA’s post-election stalemate is not addressed since strong evidence of election rigging has been adduced.
Over 2000 voters, according to reports, were supposed to vote in the election which took place in the Eastern district of Kenema but only a little 100 were permitted to take part in the electoral process.
Head of Anti-Corruption Commission, Francis Ben Kaifala is accused of bringing his weight to bear on the electoral process.
A video that has gone viral on social media shows the anti-graft boss distributing voter ID cards to the selected few to give an edge to Tuma Kamara over the other contenders.
The election has attracted tough criticisms from the public as well as lawyers themselves.
The electoral process has been totally discredited and the results challenged by the by the purported winner.
Former Bar Association President and one of Sierra Leone’s most outstanding lawyers, Basita Michael has not reserved her critical comments on the just concluded election.
“The disgraceful outcome of the SLBA election underscores the hijacking of our government by a network of individuals who believe in tyrannical rule and employ violence, intimidation and oppression to maintain control,” the long-standing lawyer quoted by an international news channel.
The election, she argued, would have been a significant victory for Wara Serry Kamal or the other contender, but the situation took a different turn.
The ex-Bar Association president was also not pleased with the “dishonourable actions” of the ACC boss who played significant role in the election rigging.
In a media interview, head of anti-graft agency has denied allegations of interfering with the electoral process saying he was in Kenema in his private capacity as a legal practitioner of 17 years at the bar.
“My role was to conduct the election of the new executive of the Sierra Leone Bar Association and nothing else,” he refuted election rigging allegations.
As the election stalemate rages, nine former Bar Association presidents have also criticised the polls and called for strong internal democracy in the Bar Association.
The former SLBA Presidents Charles Francis Margai, Francis Gabbidon, Emmanuel Shears Moses, Joseph Fitzerald Kamara, Abdul Tejan Cole, Elvis Kargbo, Ibrahim Sorie and Basita Michael have reportedly called for an immediate organisation of “proper and transparent” election to restore faith in SLBA’s leadership.
A local law research group, Institute of Legal Research and Advocacy for Justice (ILRAJ) has equally strongly condemned the Bar Association’s electoral process owing to the irregularities and violence that occurred during the polls and demands accountability.
“ILRAJ called for urgent reforms, accountability and fair elections to uphold the rule of law and democratic principles,” A letter dated May 20, 2024 reads in part.
In spite of the barrage of criticisms, SLBA’s current leadership has officially confirmed the newly elected executive committee to oversee its affairs for the coming years.
“The SLBA extends its gratitude to its members for their participation in the electoral process, and pleased to introduce the individuals who have been duly elected into various offices,” a letter by the association of lawyers reads.
By the action of SLBA’s executive, there is no way the new body could not be recognised owing to the PAOPANISATION of every form of elections in Sierra Leone.
It started from the elections of the Bike Riders Union and Motor Drivers Union in the early days of the PAOPA regime before it spread to other elections everywhere in the country.
According to social and political commentators, there is little difference between the elections of the Bar Association and that of the June 24, 2023 elections in which the Chief Electoral Commissioner, Mohamed Kenewui Konneh allegedly falsely declared President Julius Maada Bio winner.
Local and international election observation missions (the United Nations, European Union, Commonwealth, African Union, Carter Center, G7+ and ECOWAS condemned the electoral process describing it as one shrouded in opacity.
Even the local election observer group, NEW (National Election Watch) criticised Sierra Leone’s general election noting that no candidate got the 55% needed to avoid a run off.
As a result, the international community especially inter-governmental institutions are yet to recognise the Bio regime as they still demand the publication of the election results by polling stations and districts.
However, international pressure and criticisms do not alter Bio’s resolve to have a permanent grip on power.
A Tripartite Committee set up to look into alleged irregularities is in full swing with recommendations coming out soon with hope that another election would be held to ensure real peace and national cohesion.
Similarly, SLBA’S defeated candidates also hold the same hope.