Less than 48 hours after the elections at ward 369, Constituency 104 in Fourah Bay the ruling APC party has rejected the results and out rightly condemned the silence of civil society groups, including the National Elections Watch, the 50/50 group, and the All Political Parties Women’s Association.
In a press statement released yesterday the ruling party stated clearly that, “we note with dismay the silence of civil society groups including the National Elections Watch, the 50/50 group and the All Political Parties Women’s Association who have been very vocal in the past on electoral violence and gender issues”.
The statement signed by the National Secretary General, Victor Bockarie Foh condemned “the continuous violence of the SLPP” and called on the International community to pay special attention “to these ugly and undemocratic developments”.
Recalling the recent political violence in September in the Southern city of Bo, the statement reminded Journalists and the general public that President Koroma “has worked very hard to ensure stability, development and progress and that he has also restrained his membership from retaliation whenever it is alleged that this violent act is committed by the SLPP”.
Disclosing the victims of last Saturday’s political violence, the statement revealed that the APC ruling party “deemed it appropriate to petition the results of the bye-election held in ward 369, constituency 104 on Saturday 14th January 2012 as it was conducted in circumstances contrary to best practices”.
“We make this statement from a position of strength, because we have the numbers, the majority, and the capacity to neutralize and subjugate the opponents, but would not do that in the interest of our country and democracy”, the statement says.
According to Victor Foh who signed the statement, Mr. Lansana Fadika who recently joined the APC from the SLPP which he had served as regional chairman, Ibrahim Lewally the uncle of the APC Member of Parliament of constituency 104 and Mariama Suma the APC chairlady of the same constituency are presently admitted at Davidson Nicol Hospital, Cole Farm, off Wilkinson Road .
The release concluded by calling on all APC members supporters and all peace loving Sierra Leoneans to remain law abiding to avoid all forms of violence.
“The APC does not want this country to go back to the days of militarism and war; but it is becoming apparent that the SLPP is determined to use violence as a means of attaining power. We as a party are determined to prevent them from having their way, using democratic means”.
By Abibatu Kamara
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