A re-run is the ultimate end of Sierra Leone’s post-election stalemate come what may. But, in a second round, the anti-Samura unit has no bright future in the opposition, All People’s Congress (APC). Dr Samura Kamara is APC’s Presidential candidate in the June, 2023 elections, and widely recognised winner, but alleged votes stealing resulted into a contrary situation.
The anti-Samuras have been long active in the party and quite aware that they are finished once a second ballot is held as Samura will emerge winner without hindrance to State House as the elections will be supervised by foreign bodies.
If it goes as planned, the anti-Samuras will have to wait for another five years or ten years. By the wrinkling faces, it is clear that age is no more on their side at the moment, and a 10-year rule marks a bleak future for them.
To avert such political disaster, they prefer Bio’s leadership to Samura’s although they are clueless about what Bio’s real intention is.
The election is nakedly rigged to the annoyance of voters, international and local observers as well as the diplomatic community. The overt rigging is one that is referred to as ‘stolen elections’ which will not go uninvestigated and unpunished to deter would be riggers including future Presidents.
Such key members of the international community as the United States, United Kingdom, European Union and others have braced up to force President Julius Maada Bio restore democracy, but few senior APC politicians are teaming to embarrass the international community.
Instead of taking the front seat in the struggle to retrieve stolen votes, they are busy pouring cold water on the effort of those who endure the heat of the day and the cold of the night to get back their mandate.
To get their mission accomplished, several methods have been employed by the anti-Samura species although the climb is steep and may not be easy at all.
Blackmail of Dr Samura Kamara through concocted corruption allegations, Pressing for adherence to APC’s constitution, threats of litigation, sell-outs and discouraging philanthropists as well as financiers are effective tools for the propagandists.
*Blackmailing of Samura Kamara Through Made-Up allegations
Despite effort to neutralise them, the anti-Samura soldiers have still not retired to their trenches, and seem ready to release the last missile in the form of blackmails through unfounded corruption allegations.
Social media platforms which have, over the years, gained a notoriety for fake news, disinformation and misinformation have been effectively employed by the blackmailers to peddle dangerous allegations against APC presidential candidate.
Although he has built and maintained strong integrity locally and internationally, the blackmailers have accused Dr Samura Kamara of soliciting and accepting bribes from President Bio to allow him continue to rule till 2028.
Although no evidence have been put forward to support such claims, gullible APC supporters appear to have accepted the allegations hook, line and sinker as they make no effort to test the veracity of the information.
With no mince of word, Samura’s image is under attack, and will hunt him badly if his camp fails to respond accordingly to the misleading allegations.
The anti-Samuras are ready to come up with more allegations as they enjoy a strong back up from the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP). Their collusion with government became clear when First Lady, Fatima Bio, declared in a fund-raising event in the United States, that APC would never see peace, and SLPP would go unopposed.
What she said years back has been put into action as Bio currently presides the affairs of government although Sierra Leoneans and members of the international community do not recognise him.
The allegations are not made by the blackmailers for nothing; they have the primary objective of brewing hatred for Dr Samura Kamara so that SLPP can enjoy a smooth ride in their “stolen mandate” with a window of opportunity opened for the anti-Samuras.
The party in power appears to have run out of options in getting Samura to accept their plans or ploys, and the only option is to soil his image so that he could be transformed into a fiend and no more a friend to APC grassroot politicians.
But, insider sources have intimated this press that although the allegations continue, Bio secretly appeals to Kamara for a compromise plan to end the stalemate.
About two months ago, ArchBishop Tamba Charles brokered a peace deal between Kamara and Bio, but did not work since the power to accept the outcome of June elections does not lie solely in Kamara’s hands.
Even former Minister of Information and Communications, Alpha Kanu recently appealed to Samura Kamara to play second fiddle in the political impasse so that Bio can round up his second term although he is mute about the side effects.
Kanu who served the then government of President Ernest Bai Koroma is now Spokesman for Bio, and is Resident Minister of a cabinet rank in Bio’s first term.
Via video footage that went viral on media platforms, the former Information Minister appealed to Samura Kamara to keep low profile as Bio wanted to serve his people more than him.
What a dangerous for Samura Kamara who embodies the future of millions of Sierra Leoneans.
Other political stakeholders also appealed to APC’s presidential candidate to swallow the bitter pill although they know that Bio is not the true winner of the elections.
Even former President Koroma came under pressure in respect of the role he should play in the legitimisation of Bio’s second-term. Speaker of ECOWAS (Economic Community Of West African States) parliament, Mohamed Tunis visited the former President in his home in Makeni city in respect of ending the election stand off.
The visit however made no difference as situation still remains the same since the former President cannot appease the people of Sierra Leone to accept Bio again.
The prevailing political situation is complex within although it appears simple when viewed at the surface. It is therefore safe to say that it calls for tact and diplomacy for the dust to settle.
The challenge will however be difficult to overcome with hypocrisy as one cannot appeal for pardon in secret and damages one’s reputation outside. The big question that Bio and his blacmailers cannot answer is how can Samura stop parliamentarians and councilors from taking their seats after he has received money from Bio?
*Pressing For Constitutional Adherence
Blackmailing is not the only weapon in blackmailers’ hands but pressing for adherence to the party’s constitution is another mortar bomb in the arsenal.
After it was reviewed and adopted last year, APC constitution makes the flag-bearer and presidential candidate at any given time leader of the party and continues to lead if he wins an election.
The candidate however ceases to lead at the expiration of six months if he fails to make it in the polls as stated in the party’s constitution. APC’s constitution says “where a presidential candidate fails to win an election, that candidate should provide leadership for six months and later relinquish power to the chairman of the party.”
Going strictly by this provision, Samura Kamara will cease to lead the party this December which marks the end of the six months.
Although the constitution is the highest legal document for the party, it contains a big loophole or what lawyers would refer to as a lacunae. Although much expertise has been poured into it,the sacred document is silent about a situation where the votes are stolen as is the case with the June elections.
Kamara was robbed of his votes in daylight and President Bio, according to the international community, holds a “stolen mandate.”
In such a situation, it can be said without fear of contradiction that Kamara is the de jure President while Bio is a de facto one. Why can’t APC amend that part of the constitution to retain Samura leader of the party until there is a free and fair re-run which is sure to come at all cost?
APC, by all indications, has a big platform created by the international community, parliamentarians, mayors, chairmen, councilors and grassroot politicians.
The United States, United Kingdom, European Union, African Union, ECOWAS and other key inter-governmental institutions have great difficulty in recognising Bio President of Sierra Leone as they see the elections as one that “lacked transparency.”
Open violence, intimidation, harassment, arrest and detention of key opposition politicians before, during and after elections were key features of the June polls.
International and local observers too came under threat of violence by top SLPP politicians while others use verbal attacks with Dr Prince referring to them as “academic dwarves.”
Dr Harding is SLPP Chairman and passionate supporter of the PAOPA movement and ideology which is about the forceful acquisition and exercise of power by all means at the disposal of the leaders.
The movement starts within SLPP before it is brought to the domain of state governance, and does not seem to waver as it is deeply rooted in consistency, persistency and insistency.
Many observers in the media and the public hold the view that the ‘academic dwarves’ phraseology is meant to belittle the observers as it has little or no relevance to a free and fair electoral process.
The verbal attack would have also triggered and justified violent attacks against the observers who are thousands of miles away from home to nurture and strengthen democracy in Sierra Leone. The EU Election Observation Mission team itself did not lose sight of the violence that rented the air during the polls.
At a press conference held at Raddison Blu in Freetown two days after June 24 elections, Chief EU Election Observer, Invin Incir frowned at the firing of live rounds and teargas canisters during voting, and have teamed up for Bio not get to away with it.
Donor funds especially the much-needed USD444m under the MCC (Millenium Challenge Corporation) have been held back in a clear show of non-recognition of the Bio regime. United States and United Kingdom too have stopped funding of major projects except the health sector which is about life support.
Former US Ambassador to Sierra Leone, David Reimer made it clear in an interview that the United States had withdrawn funds for major projects, and that stance would not change until the Chief Electoral Commissioner, Mohamed Kenewui Konneh release the actual results.
United Kingdom too has followed similar path as they have held back their money. World Bank, International Monetary Fund and other Brittonwood financial institutions have ceased providing loans and grants to Bio’s government.
APC parliamentarians and councilors have staged the first form of boycott in Sierra Leone’s political history as they insist on maintaining their stance.
Grassroot members of APC have also warned their representatives to stay put until sanity prevails. If Samura Kamara, parliamentarians, mayors, chairmen and councillors are fighting for a headway, why can’t the anti-Samuras wait a bit for the outcome?
*Threats Of Litigation
As December fast approaches, the anti-Samuras are mobilising the required material and human support to challenge Samura Kamara in court if he fails to step down after December, this year. The proposed litigation, if it holds, will see Kamara out of Sierra Leone’s political scene and pave the way for a Bio’s second term.
At the moment, Kamara is the most respected politician within APC, but grassroot politicians will waste no time in switching their loyalty to another candidate if the anti-Samuras succeed. For many APC politicians, a verdict is sure to be delivered against Samura Kamara should the matter go to court.
Hope for a fair verdict is virtually non-existent for Kamara as APC has never got one since SLPP takes over state command.
Sierra Leoneans witnessed how the Supreme Court ignored APC’s petitions on the 2018 elections and accepted SLPP’s, a move that resulted into the removal of 10 APC parliamentarians in a day in May, 2019.
The country’s highest court also rejected valid legal questions on the constitutional instruments used to set up the commissions of inquiry for which the Chief Justice provided no justification. Sierra Leoneans also saw the verdict handed down by the Supreme Court in the Proportional Representation (PR) case filed by senior APC members.
Although no condition warranted the use of a PR system, the court allowed the new electoral model to be applied to June elections in their judgement they delivered months ahead of the elections leaving Counsel Dr Abdulai Osman Conteh flabbergasted.
Dr Conteh is one of Africa’s most reverred lawyers and framers of the 1991 APC Constitution, and his arguments are very much damaging to SLPP’s push for a PR system.
Sierra Leoneans will also hardly forget about how the Supreme Court turns down APC’s case against the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone in respect of irregularities on the eve of the elections.
The chronology of what many refer to as unfair verdicts erode confidence in the judiciary as the hope to enjoy justice in the courtroom remains faint. Little wonder that APC sees no need to file petitions again to the Supreme Court on the rigged elections of June-24.
The fear that Bio’s widely perceived illegal regime would be legalised if the court’s verdict goes against them reigns high, and it has been preempted that it will go against them.
But, for the anti-Samuras, it will be a big bingo since the verdict will favour them so that Samura could be gotten rid of for Bio to enjoy a smooth political journey.
*Sell-Outs and Discouragement Of Financiers
APC’s sell-outs to the ruling party is no more a hidden secret owing to the actions of Honourable Mohamed Bangura and Alfred Thompson. Bangura and Thompson recently took their seats in parliament and promised to bring more APC parliamentarians in months ahead.
The Parliamentarians’ actions stunned and shocked many APC members as they went contrary to the party’s move for a boycott. The defiant action does not only dent their image but also discourage financiers, philanthropists and well-wishers who are ready to boost the party’s coffers.
The situation could be seen as a capitalisation of a weakness of Samura Kamara who many say is not in control.
After the June election was allegedly openly rigged, APC’s elected reps refused to take their seats in parliament and councils so that Bio and Konneh’s actions would be rendered odious to all minds.
The action comes at a time members of the international community are standing with the people of Sierra Leone to compel Bio do what is right. As the country’s politics becomes toxic every passing day, a blind eye should not be turned to the saboteurs’ actions as they constitute ostensible threats for Samura Kamara.
However, a re-run is imminent as bright light glitters at the end of the tunnel if the ostensibe threats are translated into opportunities.