The defeated candidate in the just-concluded Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) triennial elections, Mr. Mustapha M. K. Sesay is in a desperate search for incriminating evidence that would render the just- concluded polls flawed.
In a correspondence dated 16th July, 2019 he has requested the newly-elected President of SLAJ, Ahmed Sahid Nasrala through his Secretary General, Asmieu Bah to produce supporting documents that would help him to file a petition against the elections which he described as flawed.
The Team Mustapha Campaign 2019 in a letter dated 15th July, 2019 notified the team as one of shareholders of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, a limited liability company registered with the Government of Sierra Leone and as one of the Presidential Candidates of the just- concluded elections that he wishes to request for the following documents from the SLAJ Secretariat to enable him support his petition and to enable the Commission expedite the investigation.
The defeated Presidential candidate requested for the following: updated data-based SLAJ membership Register as at the close of registration in 2019; final delegates list for the 2019 triennial conference; statement of account of SLAJ held at the Standard Chartered Bank Sierra Leone Ltd; statement of Account of the SLAJ membership dues /subscriptions held with the GT Bank, Sierra Leone and many other pertinent documents.
‘’As you are also aware, these documents should have been published and shared with each delegate at varied dates before and during the Triennial Conference,’’ the letter stated.
It will be recalled that the Teammustaphacampaign2019 had released a preliminary statement rejecting the results, calling them flawed.
It noted in the preliminary release that SLAJEC has turned down their earlier petition to vet the voters’ list twenty fours to the elections.
Mr. Sesay’s campaign team has also, amongst other things, stated that they are open to more options to seek redress and that they will release a comprehensive statement on the issue.
The latest call for documents to support their petition is another step the team has taken to challenge the election results.
Mustapha Sesay was beaten with over hundred votes in the said election and President-elect Ahmed Sahid Nasralla had called on Mr. Sesay to work with his executive, noting that he too is a winner.
His manifesto had captured critical challenges relating to the welfare of its membership, gender, mentorship and the peace and unity of the Association.
It is not known whether the current executive would heed to the latest request by teammustaphacampaign2019.
Many are of the view that the margin of the votes cast at the SLAJ elections is too wide to have encouraged Mr. Sesay to petition the result, but what is very clear is that the office of the Chief Electoral Commissioner says they are yet to formally receive a petition from Mr. Sesay which they say it is his right.
Mr. Sesay has contested for the coveted position thrice and lost but he has remained a very strong individual propelling the policy and strategic development of SLAJ.
Mr. Nasralla says he values the contributions of Mr. Sesay to SLAJ and extended an olive branch to him to work with his executive.