Freetown, 19^th November, 2012:  The attention of the All Peoples Congress Party has been drawn to a so-called ‘‘Holding Statement’’ on the conduct of the just concluded elections in Sierra Leone.  The SLPP’s vicious cycle of allegations, ranging from ballot stuffing to ministerial interference in the electoral process, are consistent with their agenda to discredit the entire electoral process in fear of losing the elections.

The SLPP pattern since September 2007 when they lost the elections to the All Peoples Congress Party had consistently been to not only question and discredit NEC’s administrative leadership but also to dictate to the institution, even though the government of Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma insists that NEC is an independent statutory authority that should perform it duties without interference.

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ALL PEOPLES CONGRESS

NATIONAL PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE (NPCC)

 

PRESS RELEASE

Response to SLPP’s unending propaganda

 

Freetown, 19^th November, 2012:  The attention of the All Peoples Congress Party has been drawn to a so-called ‘‘Holding Statement’’ on the conduct of the just concluded elections in Sierra Leone.

 

The SLPP’s vicious cycle of allegations, ranging from ballot stuffing to ministerial interference in the electoral process, are consistent with their agenda to discredit the entire electoral process in fear of losing the elections.

 

The SLPP pattern since September 2007 when they lost the elections to the All Peoples Congress Party had consistently been to not only question and discredit NEC’s administrative leadership but also to dictate to the institution, even though the government of Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma insists that NEC is an independent statutory authority that should perform it duties without interference.

 

The APC wishes to categorically state that the SLPP statement is replete with fabricated and baseless stories, and in particular wishes to respond to the following issues in the statement:

 

1. On the issue of parallel verification, our recollection is that NEC categorically advised all political parties to refrain from parallel verification at a political parties’ liaison committee meeting held on 14^th November 2012 at NEC’s headquarters. This was to avoid the kind of confusion that the SLPP are now creating.

 

1. On the issue of violence and intimidation, the APC party wishes to state that there is hardly any report or record anywhere to confirm the SLPP allegations. Local and International observers on the ground have commended Sierra Leone for the most credible and violence-free elections ever held in the history of the country. The SLPP itself at some point had congratulated the people of Sierra Leone for participating in such a violence-free poll.
2. The APC wishes to state that no Minister was involved in any act of intimidation as mischievously alleged by the SLPP. The APC Party will appreciate if the alleged EU Observer can comment on this allegation.

 

1. Finally, the Party wishes to make it abundantly clear that it was not in any way involved in ballot stuffing. The only reported case of ballot stuffing was related to an SLPP partisan who has since been arrested.

 

Signed

 

 

Hon. Alhaji I.B. Kargbo

Spokesman

APC-National Presidential Campaign Committee