All People’s Congress (APC) Member of Parliament, Hon. Osman Timbo, has formally requested the intervention of the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC) over the party’s lower-level constituency elections, urging the Commission to provide guidance on the handling of candidates who emerge unopposed.
Timbo disclosed that he wrote to the PPRC following the postponement of the constituency elections after receiving no formal response to an earlier letter he had addressed to the APC’s Internal Elections Management Committee (IEMC) on 10 June.
According to him, the issue concerns the legal procedure for dealing with candidates who are unopposed at the close of nominations. He said he had repeatedly sought clarification from the IEMC through both formal and informal channels, but the matter remained unresolved.
The lawmaker maintained that his concerns are based on legal provisions rather than political considerations, arguing that both the Constitution of Sierra Leone, 1991, and the Public Elections Act, 2022, provide guidance on the issue.
He contended that where only one candidate has been duly nominated for a position at the close of nominations, there should be no election, and that candidate should instead be declared duly elected.
Timbo further argued that adopting such a procedure would enhance transparency and improve the credibility of the party’s internal electoral process.
Among the benefits he outlined is the publication of a final list of approved candidates well ahead of polling day. He noted that during the recent ward elections, some individuals reportedly presented themselves as candidates on election day despite their names not appearing on the official list released by the party secretariat. According to him, publishing a final candidates list in both hard and electronic formats would help eliminate such irregularities.
He also called for strict enforcement of nomination deadlines, stating that although the official nomination period had closed, applications were allegedly still being accepted. He argued that establishing a firm cut-off date would prevent confusion and ensure fairness in the process.
Timbo further said declaring unopposed candidates elected would save the party, candidates, delegates and members from unnecessary financial costs and logistical burdens associated with conducting uncontested elections.
He added that the move would help reduce unnecessary tensions surrounding the electoral process and lessen pressure on state institutions, including the police and the PPRC, which are often required to monitor party elections.
The MP also noted that eliminating unnecessary elections would allow election officials to focus their attention and resources on constituencies where genuine contests exist, while reducing the overall cost of conducting the party’s lower-level elections.
Hon. Timbo expressed hope that the PPRC would provide the necessary practice direction to ensure that the APC’s constituency elections are conducted in accordance with the law and established electoral principles.
