By Stephen V. Lansana
The leadership of the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party has on Friday, June 30, 2023 declared that it will not participate in all the levels of governance, including the legislature and local councils, in protest against their belief that the results of the June 24 general elections had been tampered with to the advantage of the ruling Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) thus giving the latter an unjust majority at all levels.
It could be recalled that the APC went silent after the Chief Electoral Commissioner of Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) Mr. Mohamed Konneh announced Julius Maada Bio as the winner of the presidential election.
According to APC, they went silent because they wanted to reflect on the evil and the outright disrespect for the voices, wishes and aspirations of the people of Sierra Leone by Mr. Mohamed Konneh, the Chief Electoral Commissioner. “This has been done in cahoots with his Sierra Leone People’s Party and their leader Mr. Julius Maada Bio. These people worked for the last five years, along officials in the military, the Sierra Leone Police (SLP), the Office of National Security (ONS), and the Judiciary to undermine democracy, human rights and the rule of law in our beloved country,” APC said in a statement. “This is not a battle for the APC alone or its leaders.”
The APC party leadership said therefore that their stance in the last few days should not be mistaken as an acceptance of what they described as “obnoxious announcement of illegal electoral result,” but was an opportunity to document evidence and avoid falling into a mindless trap of violence that had been planned by the “monstrous” Bio led regime.
APC said, “They have not only tried to steal the presidential election, but also are working assiduously to give the SLPP a 2/3 majority in parliament, and take a comfortable lead in local councils across the country. To carry out this broad daylight robbery in a modern 21st Century world, is not only shocking but goes to validate our concerns and agitations since 2018.”
In light of the aforementioned circumstances and following extensive internal consultations, the APC disclosed that it has reached a definitive position regarding the actions of the ECSL and Mr. Bio and his instrumentalized security and justice sectors.
The APC unequivocally rejected the announced results of the recently concluded multi-tier elections in Sierra Leone, given the glaring irregularities and violations of established electoral procedures.
“The APC declares its non-participation in any level of governance, including the legislature and local councils, as the results have already been tampered with to give the SLPP an unjust majority at all levels,” APC emphasized. “We demand the resignation of Mr. Mohamed Konneh and all the other commissioners of the ECSL based on demonstrated bias and failure to conduct their duties impartially.”
APC has insisted on a rerun of the elections within six months to be overseen by credible individuals and institutions who will ensure a fair and transparent process.
APC has also demanded the resignation of the following: Fayia Sellu, the Inspector-General of Police; Major General Patrick Lavahun, the Chief of Defence Staff; Abdulai Caulker, the National Security Coordinator; Francis Langumba Keili, the Chief of Staff of the Office of the ONS; and Desmond Babatunde Edwards, the Chief Justice. These individuals have shown a clear disregard for their constitutional duties and have instead aligned themselves with the undemocratic aspirations of Julius Maada Bio.
APC pointed out that they will engage our international development partners to advocate for the imposition of travel bans on key individuals who have played instrumental roles in stealing the mandate of the Sierra Leonean people. In addition to those listed in point 5, we urge the inclusion of the illegitimate President, Julius Maada Bio; the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, David Francis, the Chief Minister, Jacob Jusu Saffa; the Deputy Minister of Justice, Umaru Napoleon Koroma; the Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, David Moinina Sengeh; the Press Secretary Keketoma Sandi; the Minister of Information, Mohamed Rahman Swarray; the Minister of Internal Affairs, David Panda Noah and his deputy Lahai Lawrence Leema, the First Lady Mrs. Fatima Maada Bio, the Deputy Speaker Sengepoh Solomon Thomas and Dr. Prince Alex Harding.
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