The National Electoral Commission sealed the deadline on Tuesday at exactly 5:00 pm. for the submission of all complaints related to the conduct of the just ended Local Council Election. Complaints ranging from intimidation, vote rigging and many others were submitted from all parts of the country.
Miatta French of the External Relations Department at the National Election Commission disclosed to Awoko yesterday that, the commission can confirm receiving one hundred and fifty (150) complaints from various parts of the country and they are prepared to investigate thoroughly all the alleged cases reported to the commission.
She added that, the commission is prepared and have the capacity to properly investigate cases accordingly, without fear of favor to any of the complainants submitted to the commission noting investigation of all these cases will be expedited to finish before the pronouncement of the final results on the 24th July.
Asked about the alleged burning of ballot boxes in Kenema, she confirmed receiving the reports, but noted that the Sierra Leone Police is investigating the matter presently in Kenema.
Miatta French also intimated that the commission is yet to receive an official report from the Eastern Region Commissioner of the National Election Commission based in Kenema about the alleged burning of ballot papers and boxes in Kenema and other election related cases.
Unconfirmed reports say that ballot box with registration number 1003 sent to Solon in the Gbap Nongobabulum Chiefdom Bonthe District is missing and another ballot box sent to St. Joseph Convent in Bonthe is yet to be counted due to irregularities and the helicopter which was supposed to bring the boxes down to Freetown have already left the area. There are also reports of NEC documents being tampered with and submitted without seal to the commission in some parts of the country, though the Commission is yet to confirm these allegations.
By Saidu Bah
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