As the National Electoral Commission (NEC) Chief Electoral Commissioner Christiana Thorpe declared Monday 9th June as the official start for campaigning for the Local Council elections, the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of the Northern Region has told Awoko that, the beginning of campaign in his area of operations has been peaceful.
Makeni has over the years been experiencing a peaceful political atmosphere in all political activities as was seen in the recent past presidential and parliamentary elections.
Speaking to Awoko, Christopher John said, all the leading political parties in the township of Makeni and the region in general are very cooperative with the Sierra Leone Police and that, they have been campaigning peacefully. “We are working in partnership with the political parties in the Northern region and I’m proud to say, we are having a very good cooperation from them”, AIG John said.
Despite the peaceful coexistence between citizens in his area of operation, Christopher John said, he has ensured that, his men are deployed in all strategic areas in the North to ensure a peaceful local council election. “My men have all been deployed on alert. We are applying the same formula just like those during the last general elections”, Christopher John said
Campaigning is expected to last for a period not exceeding three weeks. Meanwhile, campaigning in the Western Area has proved to be peaceful. In Waterloo, campaigning started peacefully, according to Alhassan Cole, candidate for the Council Chairman under the APC party. Speaking further to Awoko, Cole said, “signs are favorable for me…I am optimistic of winning the Chairmanship in the Waterloo District”, Cole said. He is being challenged by Hon Babajigida of the SLPP .
By John Baimba Sesay
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