The Rt Honourable Abass Chernor Bundu om Thursday 13th July, 2023 re-elected as Speaker of the Sixth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone after he scored 92 out of 96 votes.

The re-election of Hon. Abass C. Bundu was confirmed during the official opening of Parliament and the inauguration of Members of Parliament elect.

Hon. Bundu’s re-election will see him overseeing the affairs of Members of Parliament for the next five years despite inside sources say he will not oversee Parliament beyond 2025.

Another influential figure in the governing Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas, was also re-elected as the Deputy Speaker of Parliament after polling 95 votes while one voter abstained.

His re-election as Deputy Speaker underscores the trust and support he enjoys from his constituents and colleague MPs.

Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma was also re-elected as Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business, while Hon. Bashiru Silikie was elected as Deputy Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business (1) and Hon. Emerson Saa Lamina as Deputy Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business (2) respectively.

Hon. Dickson Rogers also retained his position in Parliament as the Chief Whip. Hon. Kadie Sesay is the Deputy Chief Whip (1) and Hon. Tawa Conteh is the Deputy Chief Whip (2).

The House was adjourned to Tuesday 18th July, 2023 at 10:00a.m. prompt.

Meanwhile, Hon. Mohamed Bangura was the only Member of Parliament of the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) who went to Parliament yesterday despite the APC National Advisory Committee (NAC), the second highest decision-making body of the party after the National Delegates Conference (NDC), had resolved on 30th June, 2023 that all 54 MPs elect should not participate at all levels of governance of the State.

Hon. Mohamed Bangura was the only elected APC MP who failed to commit himself to the stance of their party by not signing the document that was signed by 53 MPs elect.

He subscribed to the Oath of Office in Parliament and said he was not worried about whatever decision his party would take against him for defying their stance. The APC NAC therefore took a very drastric decision on the matter yesterday by erxpelling him from the party and promised to provide Karene District with another representative.

Many concerned Sierra Leoneans see Hon. Mohamed Bangura’s act as patriotic and hoped that other APC Members of Parliament elect would emulate him for the peace and cohesion of Sierra Leone.