By Ragan Conteh
In the wake of fears and concerns expressed by members of the opposition contesting the bye- elections in Constituency 110 slated for 24th August 2019, the Police in a last minute ditch to address such concerns has disclosed that they would deploy over three hundred armed police to police the bye elections.
Director of Operations and the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Elizabeth Turay, told the press that the police will deploy fully alongside high ranking police officers to ensure that the elections go on incidence free.
She indicated that the re-run elections slated for Saturday, 24th August will be different from all other elections.
She disclosed that several meetings have been held with political parties and other Election Management Bodies and that strategies and set rules have been agreed for the smooth conduct of the elections.
She added that a standing MAC-P has also been invoked as a stand-by force to combat threats to the peaceful conduct of the polls.
Dozens of APC supporters from Goderich and other areas within Freetown are incarcerated at the Pademba Road Correctional Centre answering to charges of riotous conduct and other related offences emanating from campaigning activities for the bye-elections.
The Police have been condemned for its heavy handedness against opposition supporters and also executing orders from above.
The said bye-elections are crucial and would determine the Parliamentary majority of either the SLPP or APC in Parliament.
The area remains an APC stronghold and the ruling party is bent on reclaiming the seat.