With the outcome of the rerun election in Constituency 110 in the Western Rural District that took place on Saturday, August 24, 2019, that saw the destruction of voting materials in one polling center with ten (10) stations and the cancellation of the overall results from twenty other polling centers with a hundred and thirty five (135) stations, the Management of NCD is concerned about the implications for democratic good governance as the situation does not speak well about the consolidation of the nation’s democracy.
With the reported violence in the polling center with ten (10) stations despite the presence of Military personnel, OSD and Regular Duty personnel from the Sierra Leone Police with MAC-P in place, many concerned citizens have made it known to the Management of NCD that it brings the reputation of these institutions into disrepute and questions the good intention of some Sierra Leoneans to uphold the tenets of democratic good governance especially as it relates to free, fair and peaceful elections.
As a Management, NCD has also received many questions about the situation with some questioning the sincerity and fairness of arresting some people prior to the election on allegation of violence with those people still kept in custody, whereas the perpetrators of violence on the day of the election have not been arrested, but allowed to roam freely. They have further posited that it appears as if the law does not apply equally across the board with the implication that some Sierra Leoneans are far better than others.
In view of this situation, the Management of NCD is calling on the Law Enforcement Agencies and the Courts to serve the ends of justice and create a level playing field for all Sierra Leoneans and avoid creating disaffection if our hard-won democracy is to work in the best interest of the people.
Moreover, with the cancellation of the results from the Saturday, August 24, 2019, polls in Constituency 110 in the Western Rural District, the Management of NCD is also bothered by the situation bearing in mind the stipulations of the Constitution of Sierra Leone, Act No 6 of 1991, the Public Elections Act of 2012 and related laws. It is the reasoned view of the Management of NCD that a rerun of the polling center where the violence occurred is more in sync with the laws, common sense and fair play than the cancellation of the results from the other centers where voting was conducted without any major incident.
In view of the current political climate, the Management of NCD is calling on all stakeholders to work in accordance with the laws and treat everybody fairly as citizens with equal rights and responsibilities before God and the Law and let it be made abundantly clear that if our democracy is to work perfectly in the context of a peaceful, united and cohesive Country, we should create a level playing field for all Sierra Leoneans regardless of background or shade of opinion on issues in the Country.
Long Live Democratic Good Governance!
Long Live a Peaceful, United and Cohesive Sierra Leone!
SIGNED: NCD MANAGEMENT
DATE: TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2019
