The All Peoples Congress (APC) has announced its decision to resume participation in the Tripartite Committee, despite ongoing challenges and perceived lack of cooperation from both the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) government and the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL). The APC’s decision shows the party’s commitment to pursuing electoral justice and upholding democratic principles.
In a press statement released today, the APC expressed frustration over the ECSL’s refusal to produce or verify disaggregated data from the June 24th, 2023 elections. The party accuses the ECSL of using baseless justifications to conceal electoral malpractices and describes the election results announced by ECSL Chairman Mohamed Konneh as fictitious. According to the APC, credible evidence of over-voting and other discrepancies has emerged, casting doubt on the validity of the announced results.
“The SLPP government and ECSL have consistently failed to produce or verify the disaggregated data from the June 24th, 2023 elections in a cold and contemptuous manner,” the statement read. “Their refusal to provide this critical information likely stems from the fact that such data either does not exist or contradicts the figures announced by ECSL’s Chairman Mohamed Konneh.”
Despite these challenges, the APC remains determined to fight for electoral transparency and accountability. The decision to resume participation in the Tripartite Committee follows serious consultations with ECOWAS and AU mediators, who visited the APC office today. The party emphasised that its temporary suspension from the committee was a strategic move aimed at highlighting the ECSL’s lack of transparency and drawing attention to critical issues.
“To our loyal supporters, we want to assure you that our strategic move to temporarily suspend our involvement in the Tripartite Committee was made in the best interest of the party and its supporters,” the statement continued. “This suspension brought to light the significant challenges our contingent is facing in obtaining data and verification documents from the ECSL – documents that should be freely available to all citizens as has always been the practice.”
The APC thanked its supporters for their unwavering support and patience during this period, reaffirming its commitment to electoral justice and democratic values. “Rest assured, the APC is committed to fighting for electoral justice and upholding the democratic values that are the foundation of our beloved Sierra Leone. Together, we will continue to strive for a transparent and accountable electoral process that reflects the true voice of the people.”
Though the APC had resumes its engagement with the Tripartite Committee, the political landscape in Sierra Leone remains tense, with the party’s actions likely to influence ongoing discussions about the country’s electoral integrity and democratic processes
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