Government spokesman and Information Minister Alhaji I.B. Kargbo has declared that President Ernest Koroma will not say a word until Chief Electoral Commissioner Christiana Thorpe announces the results.
He was reacting to claims made by the opposition and flag bearer of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) Rtd Brig. Maada Bio that there were a number of irregularities during the November 17 General elections.
“President Koroma believes in the rule of law and in state institutions and so he allows these institutions to do their jobs. Therefore the National Electoral Commission (NEC) which is the only legitimate body saddled with the responsibility of conducting the elections and announcing the results, will have to announce the final results before the President makes any statement,” the information Minister said on national television yesterday morning.
He also said that it was ultra virus for anyone to try and do the job of NEC.
The Information minister reaffirmed the peacefulness of the elections and said that this has restored the country’s credibility.
On allegations made against the Defence Minister Palo Conteh that he was at Wilberforce and Hill Station and that his presence caused concern, the Information Minister said that as Defence Minister who had released his men to join MACP, it is not wrong for the man to go out and observe how his men were performing alongside the Police.
Meanwhile, Inspector-General of Police Francis Munu also said that the MACP will be in force until the situation returns to normal after the results have been announced. He also defended the MACP as being a legacy of the withdrawal of the UN Forces, who then recommended that MACP should be utilised to block any gap in the security apparatus.
By Jay Willie & Nancy Koroma
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