Meets President Koroma, NEC, candidates and other stakeholders
Ahead of Wednesday’s general
elections in Sierra Leone, former President Goodluck Jonathan has urged the
people of the West African nation to conduct peaceful and credible polls.
The former
President who is leader of the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in
Africa (EISA) Observer Mission to the March 7 elections gave the advice
while meeting with different stakeholders in Freetown. A statement by
Jonathan’s media adviser Ikechukwu Eze said he had met with Sierra Leonean
President Ernest Bai Koroma, chairman of the National Electoral Commission
(NEC) Mohammed Conteh, chairman of the Political Party Registration Council
(PPRC) Justice Patrick Hamilton, some Presidential candidates as well as
leaders of the international community, youth associations, media unions,
security outfits and civil society organisations.
While advising
the stakeholders to ensure non-violent processes during elections, Jonathan
also stressed “the need to sustain the peace that the good people of Sierra
Leone have been enjoying since the end of the civil war.”
“As Africans we have to avoid the temptation of playing politics of
desperation. It should be played without bitterness or rancor, with our mind
focused on development and the welfare of our people.”
He added that
the Mission was in the country to support “the integrity of the electoral
processes through diligent observation of the polling activities in line with
the rules and code of conduct for
international election observers.”
international election observers.”
While welcoming
Jonathan to his office the PPRC boss Justice Hamilton thanked the former
President for his roles and contributions to the growth of democracy in Sierra
Leone.
He said: “I
believe that the reason you are here is to see that we have something
similar to the credible and transparent elections you organized as President of
Nigeria.”
Speaking in the
same vein, the Presidential Candidate of the main opposition party, Sierra
Leonean Peoples Party (SLPP) Brig. Gen Julius Maada Bio (rtd), noted that the
presence of Jonathan and other “former African Presidents in Sierra Leone was
an indication that democracy is on the rise on the continent.”
Meanwhile the
international election observation missions (IEOMs) present in Sierra Leone on
Tuesday issued a joint statement urging the people of the country to ensure
that these elections “are transparent, credible and conducted in accordance
with prescribed laws and regulations.”
The statement
issued by Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), African Union
(AU), The Commonwealth, Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa
(EISA), European Union (EU), and The Carter Center (TCC). reads: “We recognise
that the 2018 elections in Sierra Leone, the fourth since the end of the civil
war, are
critical to the maintenance of peace and stability in the country. Based on consultations with Sierra Leonean stakeholders over the past weeks, have noted the efforts of the National Electoral Commission, the Political Parties Registration Commission, the Judiciary, the Office of National Security, the Sierra Leone Police, civil society, the media and other key institutions towards the conduct of peaceful and transparent elections.
critical to the maintenance of peace and stability in the country. Based on consultations with Sierra Leonean stakeholders over the past weeks, have noted the efforts of the National Electoral Commission, the Political Parties Registration Commission, the Judiciary, the Office of National Security, the Sierra Leone Police, civil society, the media and other key institutions towards the conduct of peaceful and transparent elections.
“We call on the
political leaders, parties and their supporters to ensure peaceful elections
and respect for the rule of law as they go to the polls tomorrow (Wednesday)
and through the results tallying
process. Further urge them to uphold their commitments under the ‘Freetown Declaration’, which was signed by presidential candidates on 28 February 2018.
process. Further urge them to uphold their commitments under the ‘Freetown Declaration’, which was signed by presidential candidates on 28 February 2018.
“We further
call on the NEC and party polling agents to conduct their duties in a
professional manner, which would ensure that these elections are transparent,
credible and conducted in accordance with prescribed laws and regulations.
“We encourage
candidates to accept the outcome of the elections in line with Article 9 of the
ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance (2001) and, in
the event of complaints or disputes, encourage candidates to seek redress
through legal channels whilst at all times refraining from acts of violence and
intimidation.
“We look to the
government of Sierra Leone to uphold its constitutional obligations to provide
a secure environment that guarantees the safety of candidates, voters, NEC
officials and
electoral materials. The missions urge the security agencies throughout the country to demonstrate professionalism and to enforce the law in a neutral and proportional manner. The different IEOMs have deployed over 250 international observers across the country to follow all aspects of election day and some will remain to observe the tallying process and post-election period.
electoral materials. The missions urge the security agencies throughout the country to demonstrate professionalism and to enforce the law in a neutral and proportional manner. The different IEOMs have deployed over 250 international observers across the country to follow all aspects of election day and some will remain to observe the tallying process and post-election period.
The IEOMs
present in Sierra Leone would like to take the opportunity to wish the citizens
of Sierra Leone well in the exercise of their democratic rights; and pledge our
unequivocal commitment to support the people of Sierra Leone to ensure a
peaceful and credible conclusion of the electoral process.
No comments:
Post a Comment