The Chairman of the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC) Justice M.E. Tolla Thompson yesterday dismissed a complaint filed by Dr. Abass Bundu of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) on the conduct of Constituency Elections in Port Loko District.
Reading his conclusion, Justice Thompson said, “The Commission listened to the various statements and submissions by the relevant party members. We agree with Dr. Bundu that he should have been contacted by Dr. Bobson Sesay and his team when going for the election.
We condemn and deprecate such action. It behoves all of us to maintain peace and harmony in the Party. However, that is not to say that Dr. Bundu did not have any knowledge that elections were about to begin in the 10 constituencies.
Indeed, the information he got about the elections came from his own supporters. In our view, he should have made some presence, more so when it turned out that it was the list he had, that was used for the elections.
It is also clear to us that some of the members who gave reasons for not taking part in the elections, did not take part for other reasons, other than what they said.
We neither share their views nor the insinuation in the reasons they proffered. The reason was a deliberate ploy to boycott the elections”
“We have considered the statements and the information we have received so far and based on the circumstances, we have come to the conclusion that the elections were conducted by competent authority; who endeavoured to maintain, elementary and essential fairness in carrying out the elections in the 10 constituencies.
We therefore did not see any cogent and substantial reasons to distrust the outcome of the elections. The complaint is dismissed” he concluded.
Meanwhile, the Commission’s Chairman met with members of the Body of Christ at the Commissions Headquarters in Freetown. The meeting discussed the current impasse between Executive Members of the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) ahead of their Delegate Conference.
Briefing the Chairman, Ebun A. James-Pekam of the Council of Churches in Sierra Leone informed the Chairman that as The Body of Christ, they are deeply concerned about what is happening in the SLPP.
She says they were approached by UNIPSIL to play a role in settling the impasse.
She also informed the Chairman that they have already met with John O. Benjamin, Chairman and Leader of the SLPP and Rtd Brigadier Julius Maada Bio on Monday 12th August 2013. These meetings, she said, were to find an amicable solution to the current impasse.
Addressing the meeting, Justice M.E. Tolla Thompson said the Commission was mediating between the executive of the SLPP. He informed them that from what he had heard and seen, the SLPP is presently polarised and that Executive Members & Elders of the Party have already taken sides.
At the end of the Meeting, members of the Body of Christ agreed to have a joint meeting with John O. Benjamin and Rtd. Brigadier Julius Maada Bio. It is also expected that at the end of that meeting, there will be a joint statement before the start of the Convention which is scheduled for this weekend.
August 15, 2013
ADVERTISEMENT