The nomination of Theo Nicol, one of the three (3) Contestants for the vice presidency in the forthcoming national elections of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) has been declared null and void by the Electoral College.
His disqualification came as a result of a petition by co-contestants Abdul Rahman Swaray who petitioned his candidacy on the grounds that he had violated Article 11 (2) of the SLAJ national executive constitution.
The article states that “to be eligible for election on the national executive, a candidate must be a paid up full member of SLAJ and must have qualified for full membership for at least three consecutive years preceding the election.”
According to a press release issued by the Chief Electoral Commissioner Samuel John yesterday, it states that having thoroughly investigated the allegations, it was discovered that Theo Nicol was admitted as member of SLAJ in October 2007, which disqualifies him from contesting any national executive position.
Another petition that was upheld was that of Hawa Georgette Tucker, who was petitioned on similar grounds by Unisa Bangura.
The Commissioners during their investigations discovered that Hawa Tucker was admitted into SLAJ in April 2004 which qualifies her to contest for any national executive position.
Similarly the Commissioners dismissed the petition filled by Stanley Bangura of Makeni which claims that the nominations of Catherine Zainab Tarawallie, Morlai Sillah Bangura, Pious Patrick Lawrence, Betty Alimany Sesay, Rev. John S. Bangura and Sahr James Bangura were seconded by unknown persons, which makes it difficult to determine their eligibility.
He claimed that all the above persons’ nomination forms were completed with the same handwriting which strongly suggested proxy nomination.
In their ruling, the Electoral College debunked both allegations as the petition forms were filled in different handwritings and duly signed, which suggests that they were not done by proxy, while the seconding of nomination through signature was properly cross-checked by the various Commissioners.
Meanwhile, the elections would be held on the 29th November in Freetown at the Miatta Conference Hall and in the various Headquarter Towns starting at 9am to end at 1:00 pm.
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