Although election seems to have ended at Charlotte village, Tongues still continue to waggle about the results. Like June-24 polls, the head man election was tilted in favour of an SLPP (Sierra Leone People’s Party) public relations officer, Saidu Sesay who was declared winner amid controversies and widespread irregularities.
ECSL’s latest pronouncement of the ruling party member winner of the elections means a continuation of rigging that adds more insult to injury. The Charlotte village community expressed their dissatisfaction over the electoral process during a press conference held last Friday. Addressing the media, one of the candidates, Dennis Valcarcel said they would petition the election owing to the electoral irregularities saying the winner was not a registered voter.
“Mr Saidu Sesay violated several rules and regulations which to our mind could be interpreted as serious anomaly that makes his candidacy void and therefore not eligible for the elections,” he argued.
He pointed out that the winner Saidu Sesay was neither a resident in their community nor a voter adding that reason ECSL allowed him to be nominated as Chief in their village is still doubtful.
Sesay, he said, was recommended by some SLPP (Sierra Leone People’s Party) stakeholders and was declared winner of the election in the village.
“We will not accept such a headman in our community because we consider him as strangers and nobody knows him,” he said.
A community elder, and one of the aspirants, Moses Vandy said he felt disgusted about the outcome of the election since they were assured of transparency and fair process.
“Saidu Sesay never attended the election processes even during the election day absconded and never voted in the community,” he said. One of the community stakeholders and only female candidate, Rachael English, said she registered at Bathurst and contested elections at Charlotte but was not given symbol or even nominated.
“Everyone is subject to the rule of law, and we are surprised when people bulldoze the law to suit their comfort. Four of us were scrutinised except Saidu Sesay; this is selective justice and it should not happen in a democracy,” he asserted.
She went on to state that ECSL duped them, and must fight back to restore the law. The Tribal Head at Charlotte village, Foday Bundu, said they would continue to protest until the right thing is done saying Saidu Sesay was not a registered voter at charlotte village although he was announced winner using Paopa influence in their community.
The malpractices, he went on, could amount to serious chaos in their community if measures to stop it were not taken.
However, he said on the polling day on Saturday 28th October 2023, three of them including Dennis Valcarcel, Santigie Kamara and Moses Vandi discovered that the purported winner was not registered at Charlotte Village for any public elections thereby breaching the electoral laws.
Mr Dennis Valcarcel further alleged that Saidu Sesay had been a registered voter of another community and did not vote in the current election.
The losing candidates and the community stakeholders have intensified their appeals to ECSL to investigate the results so that chaos could be avoided.
“As stakeholders of Charlotte Village, they know their democratic right and because they are peaceful citizens, they don’t believe in fraud and violence,” he said.
He further stressed that they believe in the democratic rule and have respect for elders but urged authorities including the President to address these issues. As he looked back, a 79-year old man said since he was born in Charlotte village, he had never witnessed such level of electoral dishonesty.
Although election seems to have ended at Charlotte village, Tongues still continue to waggle about the results. Like June-24 polls, the head man election was tilted in favour of an SLPP (Sierra Leone People’s Party) public relations officer, Saidu Sesay who was declared winner amid controversies and widespread irregularities.
ECSL’s latest pronouncement of the ruling party member winner of the elections means a continuation of rigging that adds more insult to injury. The Charlotte village community expressed their dissatisfaction over the electoral process during a press conference held last Friday. Addressing the media, one of the candidates, Dennis Valcarcel said they would petition the election owing to the electoral irregularities saying the winner was not a registered voter.
“Mr Saidu Sesay violated several rules and regulations which to our mind could be interpreted as serious anomaly that makes his candidacy void and therefore not eligible for the elections,” he argued.
He pointed out that the winner Saidu Sesay was neither a resident in their community nor a voter adding that reason ECSL allowed him to be nominated as Chief in their village is still doubtful.
Sesay, he said, was recommended by some SLPP (Sierra Leone People’s Party) stakeholders and was declared winner of the election in the village.
“We will not accept such a headman in our community because we consider him as strangers and nobody knows him,” he said.
A community elder, and one of the aspirants, Moses Vandy said he felt disgusted about the outcome of the election since they were assured of transparency and fair process.
“Saidu Sesay never attended the election processes even during the election day absconded and never voted in the community,” he said. One of the community stakeholders and only female candidate, Rachael English, said she registered at Bathurst and contested elections at Charlotte but was not given symbol or even nominated.
“Everyone is subject to the rule of law, and we are surprised when people bulldoze the law to suit their comfort. Four of us were scrutinised except Saidu Sesay; this is selective justice and it should not happen in a democracy,” he asserted.
She went on to state that ECSL duped them, and must fight back to restore the law. The Tribal Head at Charlotte village, Foday Bundu, said they would continue to protest until the right thing is done saying Saidu Sesay was not a registered voter at charlotte village although he was announced winner using Paopa influence in their community.
The malpractices, he went on, could amount to serious chaos in their community if measures to stop it were not taken.
However, he said on the polling day on Saturday 28th October 2023, three of them including Dennis Valcarcel, Santigie Kamara and Moses Vandi discovered that the purported winner was not registered at Charlotte Village for any public elections thereby breaching the electoral laws.
Mr Dennis Valcarcel further alleged that Saidu Sesay had been a registered voter of another community and did not vote in the current election.
The losing candidates and the community stakeholders have intensified their appeals to ECSL to investigate the results so that chaos could be avoided.
“As stakeholders of Charlotte Village, they know their democratic right and because they are peaceful citizens, they don’t believe in fraud and violence,” he said.
He further stressed that they believe in the democratic rule and have respect for elders but urged authorities including the President to address these issues. As he looked back, a 79-year old man said since he was born in Charlotte village, he had never witnessed such level of electoral dishonesty.