A tweet by the US Ambassador to Sierra Leone, David Reimer, has urged the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party to change their stance on not to participate at all levels of governance of the State.

It could be recalled that after the Saturday 24th June, 2023 multitier election results were announced by the National Returning Officer of the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL), Mohamed Konneh, the newly elected Members of Parliament declared their intention to abstain from participating in the governance processes of the State following a resolution made by the APC National Advisory Committee (NAC) during a meeting held on 30th June, 2023 as stated in the party’s news release.

“I urge the APC not to boycott government. A vibrant democracy needs a strong opposition; those who voted for the opposition need to have their voices heard,” the tweet from the official twitter handle of the embassy, US EmbassyFreetown, said late Wednesday evening.

It was made a day before the Sixth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone was officially inaugurated, about two weeks after the ECSL announced the results of the June 24 multitier elections.

About fifty-three (53) elected members of the main opposition APC stayed away from the ceremony in Parliament based on their resolution, save Hon. Mohamed Bangura of Karene District in the Northwest Region, who was the only APC elected MP that attended the ceremony and took the Oath of Office.

The main opposition APC had said it would not take part in the governance processes of the country in protest against what they consider as a rigged electoral process.

Though the incumbent, His Excellency President Brig. (Rtd) Dr. Julius Maada Bio was declared winner of the presidential election with 56.17 percent of the valid votes, the main opposition APC insists that the figures were cooked up and called for fresh elections.

Though the former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice in the erstwhile APC Government, Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara had advised that the best option for the party was to challenge the election results in court and produce evidence, the party hierarchy had argued that the Sierra Leone Judiciary would not be independent in the matter and, therefore, its resolution was the best option.

Besides the presidency, the governing SLPP also won majority of the parliamentary seats (81) as well as local council seats (270) around the country.

According to political analysts, APC’s decision to boycott Parliament therefore means only SLPP will run the affairs of the country.

Meanwhile, the US Embassy on Tuesday issued a statement denying reports that Ambassador David Reimer has been transferred amid allegations of interference in domestic politics of the country.