Commentary

The 21-Man Interim Transitional Governance Committee (ITGC) may on behalf of the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) face the High Court presided by Justice Adrian Fisher to request for an extension of the timeline for the conduct and completion of the party’s lower level elections ahead of the 24th June, 2023 multitier elections.

According to the Chairman of the 25-Man Transitional Independent Elections Management Committee (TIEMC), Lawyer Ibrahim Sorie, the APC was given 45 days by the court to conduct all lower level elections nationwide within the allotted timeline with eight more days to go.
Given the current brouhahas over the ongoing conduct of the lower level elections across the country, it would be extremely difficult for the APC to complete the conduct of the lower level elections against the stipulated timeframe. It is against this backdrop that the 21-Man ITGC are going back to court to seek for an extension of time in order not to breach the court order.

Though the main opposition APC is being torn apart by internecine warfare with spate of violence, intimidation, inflammatory remarks in the traditional and social media, court cases, dissenting views on pertinent national issues in Parliament and other vices, the court must see reason for the extension of time to enable the party to complete the conduct of its lower level elections and the National Delegates’ Conference (NDC) in order to create a level playing field for the conduct of the 24th June multitier elections. If we are talking about democracy, free, fair, transparent and credible national elections, we believe the APC should be given more time to complete the conduct of its lower level elections and the NDC to choose its presidential candidate.

Some unscrupulous APC youths have already started blaming His Excellency President Brig. (Rtd) Julius Maada Bio for craftily putting the strings behind the scene to dismantle APC thereby undermining democracy in the country. This could be a figment of their imagination but for the sake of democracy, peace and stability of the country, the court should extend the timeline for the APC lower level elections and the NDC so that they would not blame their numerous internal problems or shortcomings on the President or the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) Government.

The delays in the conduct of the lower level elections will definitely prevent the APC from meeting the deadlines of the court, the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). But whatever the case with the delays in the lower level elections and the NDC, the Government should allow the APC to fully participate in the 24th June multitier elections as their non-participation could be translated into perceived marginalization and violence with grave consequences for the country.

The 21-Man Interim Transitional Governance Committee (ITGC) may on behalf of the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) face the High Court presided by Justice Adrian Fisher to request for an extension of the timeline for the conduct and completion of the party’s lower level elections ahead of the 24th June, 2023 multitier elections.
According to the Chairman of the 25-Man Transitional Independent Elections Management Committee (TIEMC), Lawyer Ibrahim Sorie, the APC was given 45 days by the court to conduct all lower level elections nationwide within the allotted timeline with eight more days to go.
Given the current brouhahas over the ongoing conduct of the lower level elections across the country, it would be extremely difficult for the APC to complete the conduct of the lower level elections against the stipulated timeframe. It is against this backdrop that the 21-Man ITGC are going back to court to seek for an extension of time in order not to breach the court order.
Though the main opposition APC is being torn apart by internecine warfare with spate of violence, intimidation, inflammatory remarks in the traditional and social media, court cases, dissenting views on pertinent national issues in Parliament and other vices, the court must see reason for the extension of time to enable the party to complete the conduct of its lower level elections and the National Delegates’ Conference (NDC) in order to create a level playing field for the conduct of the 24th June multitier elections. If we are talking about democracy, free, fair, transparent and credible national elections, we believe the APC should be given more time to complete the conduct of its lower level elections and the NDC to choose its presidential candidate.
Some unscrupulous APC youths have already started blaming His Excellency President Brig. (Rtd) Julius Maada Bio for craftily putting the strings behind the scene to dismantle APC thereby undermining democracy in the country. This could be a figment of their imagination but for the sake of democracy, peace and stability of the country, the court should extend the timeline for the APC lower level elections and the NDC so that they would not blame their numerous internal problems or shortcomings on the President or the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) Government.
The delays in the conduct of the lower level elections will definitely prevent the APC from meeting the deadlines of the court, the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). But whatever the case with the delays in the lower level elections and the NDC, the Government should allow the APC to fully participate in the 24th June multitier elections as their non-participation could be translated into perceived marginalization and violence with grave consequences for the country.