By Ralph Sesay
The Sierra Leone People’s Party has debunked a press release from the National Elections Watch, Sierra Leone, dated the 27th March, 2018 in which the organization accused their leader of having made inflammatory remarks while responding to the party position on the recent interim Injunction.
A press release from the SLPP has stated that NEW’s press release has failed to specifically mention which aspects of the ‘recent statements’ was inflammatory. Such a blanket description, the release went on, is a misrepresentation and has the potential to undermine their impartiality as election observers.
According to the SLPP, it is unacceptable that NEW has made public allegations of inflammatory statements by the SLPP presidential candidate, Julius Maada Bio, without evidence and facts to substantiate this allegation in their statements.
“We view this as an attempt by NEW to tarnish the reputation of the SLPP Presidential candidate in the run-up to the Presidential runoff scheduled for Saturday March, 31st ,2018.”
The release concluded by reiterating that where there are emerging issues that threaten to undermine the electoral process and democratic consolidation, Bio will respond robustly and strongly, stating that whiles they condemn all forms of inflammatory statements they will also robustly protect their democracy.
It could be recalled the National Elections Watch, Sierra Leone, has on the 27th March, 2018 issued a Press release condemning statements made by the Presidential candidate of the SLPP whiles responding to the party’s position relating to the interim injunction on the Presidential runoff and also similar statements made by the National Publicity Secretary of the Party on AYV television on Sunday.
NEW referred to both statements as inflammatory and urged all political party leaders to respect the ECOWAS protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.