Fresh demand for the publication of the electoral register of the June 24, 2023 elections has been made again by the main opposition, All People’s Congress (APC).
Former Finance Minister, Dr Kelfala Marrah who is representing APC at the Election Investigation Committee said the June election was incomplete without publication of the electoral data by the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL).
“Over 2, 000, 000 (two million) vote in the elections and why does ECSL hold on to the electoral data,” Dr Marrah questioned the credibility of the election authorities.
He urged the election body to produce the data since it was an international best practice for elections all over the world.
The former minister made the demand during a signing ceremony of the terms of reference to be used by the Election Investigation Committee (EIC) also known as the tripartite committee.
Examination of the June elections, certification and publication of the results, review of the relevant electoral laws particularly the Public Elections Act, 2022, electoral redress mechanism, management and functional reviews of ECSL among others were the main terms that will guide the tripartite committee in their investigation. The all-important ceremony took place at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown attended by top dignitaries, members of the diplomatic community and the opposition leader, Dr Samura Kamara.
Although the former minister was not definite about what would be the outcome if ECSL failed to publish the data, a rerun of the June elections had been widely expected by the people of Sierra Leone.
It would be difficult for the election results to be accepted and left as they are owing to the political tension that engulfs the country compounded by a weak economy, a spiraling inflation and unparalleled suffering of the masses.
As he looked back at June last year, Dr Marrah said absence of transparency at all stages of the elections especially the tallying process was the cause of a stand-off between APC and SLPP prompting the international community to intervene.
ECSL’s refusal to produce the electoral register, he said, did not go down well with the APC party and the voters who were calling for a rerun.
He pointed out the tallying process as the main cause of rigging
However, government’s representative at the tripartite committee, Professor Emmanuel Gaima disagreed with the APC demand saying there would be no rerun of the elections. “The whole investigation of the June elections is to put structures in place for future elections,” Dr Gaima told journalists.
He also ruled out any attempt by the tripartite committee to coerce the Chief Electoral Commissioner, Mohamed Kenewui Konneh to appear at the committee talk less of producing the data.
“The Election Investigation Committee has statutory limitation and it is also not a commission of inquiry,” he stressed.
Although the terms of reference have been adopted, Sierra Leoneans still doubt whether a rerun would be held as government officials frown at the move.
However, UN Resident Coordinator, Seraphine Wakana urged the two political parties to support the tripartite committee and diffuse political tension in the country.
The UN, she said, remained committed to supporting electoral reforms in Sierra Leone as it was the only way to peace and national cohesion.
“The signing of the terms of reference is an important step for peace and national cohesion,” the UN Resident Coordinator said while expressing hope that the committee would come up with clear-cut electoral reforms.
Despite a seeming disagreement between the two political parties, the international community also remains committed to supporting the investigation committee to get to the bottom of the probe devoid of political gimmicks.
Recently, the United States donated $1.5m to the tripartite committee to expedite its work with the funds managed by the United States Agency for International Development.
The current stalemate emanated from the June 24, 2023 elections following the declaration of the incumbent candidate, President Julius Maada Bio winner of the polls.
The Chief Electoral Commissioner, Mohamed Kenewui Konneh announced 56.17 percent of the votes for President Bio leaving 43.87 percent for the APC, a move that sparked political tension in the country.
The results were discredited by local and international election observers who said the process lacked transparency.
EU, UN, Commonwealth, AU, Carter Centre, G7+ and other election observer groups did not accept the election owing to the dubious circumstances surrounding the process.
EU Chief Election observer, Ivin Incir pointed out specific incidents of violence used by government to crackdown on the opposition.
She did not lose sight of the firing sprees at APC headqauters in Freetown in which a health professional was fatally injured.
On voting day, most people did not vote as the firing of teargas canisters and live rounds rented the atmosphere.
As a result, APC’s elected officials (parliamentarians and councillors) refused to participate in Bio’s government by boycotting parliament and local councils. It was a move that made it difficult for government to function properly.
At the peak of political tension, the international community (Commonwealth, African Union and ECOWAS) facilitated a peace deal between the political parties resulting into the signing of a communiqué that contained eight resolutions to be implemented by the two sides.
Resolution-3 obliged government and the opposition party to set up a cross-party committee to look into the alleged irregularities of the June polls.
As the terms have been adopted, the people of Sierra Leone watched and waited for the outcome.