By a social media political commentator
Power is in the hands of the people who therefore have the constitutional right to choose their leadership through free and fair elections, and which democratic right not to be tampered with, denied or usurped by insidious undercurrents, or manipulated by the threats of violence, intimidation and harassment in concert with designated political operatives within the governance system.
Factually, the actions of ECSL under the directives of the SLPP political leadership to release fake data of voters’ register, if not checked, ECSL is seen as a deliberate ploy to rig the elections by every means necessary, by not adhering to the provisos and constitutional values of good governance and statutory regulations, which being against the people’s will.
Now, APC Party has to deeply concentrate on the ball and its shadow game plans by its main political rival, SLPP, and also to demonstrate strong leadership with intuitive and empirical analytical strategies in deterring SLPP’s hidden plans inside and outside ECSL’s situational room, in their attempt to rig the elections, “PAOPA”.
It is all evident that the disaggregated data of voters’ register severally released by ECSL not accurate; and not reflective of the people’s action for a change of governance, to guarantee free, fair, transparent and credible elections. The data released by ECSL was cooked up, doctored, and distorted with so errors and missing links, being a mechanised ploy to steal and circumvent the people’s mandate; therefore not acceptable, and must be challenged by court action.
Let it also be noted that the patriotic people of Sierra Leone have lost confidence in ECSL, and their deliberate act of falsifying and distorting the data of the voters’ register, compounded by the unprecedented act of terror, intimidation and violence by state machinery/operatives and SLPP’s militia/Kamajors, countrywide, especially in their strongholds, southeast, hold the view that the elections cannot be held on 24th June until the right thing is done satisfactorily.
And this stands to reason that the International community has to intervene to salvage the situation, not to lead to political instability, a rebirth of the 11 years civil war.
In ensuring political stability and also protecting the people’s will the following is to be noted:
Because the people have lost confidence in ECSL, it is but prudent for an interim body to be set up to conduct the elections free and fair, and supervised by the International community.
The ID cards of all eligible registered voters to be reprinted with every feature on it very clear and readable. No new registration.
The voter data software to be vetted tested and its correctness certified and validated by the political parties, especially the APC party.
The correct and true or actual disaggregated data of voters’ register to be released, and then vouched, checked and its correctness certified by the parties, especially APC before any other arrangements for the conduct of the elections could be made.
And with the level of violence unleashed at the opposition, APC party countrywide by state security forces with intimidation and harassment, there is need for ECOWAS and other international bodies to come in and remedy the situation, for it not to escalate to a rear outcome in which the people’s will circumvented and usurped, leading to a state of unrest, tension and political instability. This must be averted.
For the good of Mama Salone, since the right thing could not be satisfactorily done within the period to 24th June 2023, and to save the country from the nightmare of looming unrest, it is but wise for the elections to be postponed, and a new date slated by ECSL under the supervision of the International community.
On the side of the APC, the party has to ensure that their votes are protected during the elections’ day; not to allow any form of violence or intimidation to divert or shift their eyes or concentration from on the “Ball”. The party has to have strong, determined, loyal, purposeful and patriotic party agents in polling stations/centres countrywide.
The party agents should not allow themselves to be carried away by any situational event; but to be focused, and smart to ensure that the right things are done in the polling station/centre.
APC party is being destined to save Mama Salone, which mission and agenda cannot be stopped irrespective the prevailing ugly situation. So let our eyes be on the Ball with resilience and determination to bring the change that can transform the people’s lives to a progressive trend of sustainable development.
Long Live Dr Samura Kamara, Long Live APC, and in the struggles of APC, there is Victory.
