Public Relations Officer of the Sierra Leone Bar Association (SLBA), Alfred Kamanda, has announced his withdrawal from the race for a second term as the Association’s Public Relations Officer, citing developments that unfolded during the Association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Kamanda, who has been serving as the Bar Association’s spokesperson, said he no longer has an interest in contesting for the position following what he described as troubling events during the AGM, which have fueled growing concerns over the credibility of the electoral process.

Speaking after the day’s proceedings, Kamanda said the incidents surrounding the AGM had left him disillusioned and convinced that participating in the election would no longer be worthwhile.

“I am no longer interested in running for the position of Public Relations Officer of the Bar Association because of what happened today. It is not adding anything to me; in fact, it has taken so much from me,” he said.

He explained that he had entered the race with determination and had actively campaigned for another term. However, according to him, the events he witnessed during the AGM convinced him that the electoral process was unlikely to produce a fair outcome.

“I had every intention of contesting and campaigned throughout. However, what I witnessed today is a clear indication that it is not going to happen, even if we proceed with the election,” Kamanda stated.

Although Kamanda did not provide detailed reasons for his decision or identify the specific incidents that influenced his withdrawal, his announcement comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions and controversy surrounding the Sierra Leone Bar Association’s Annual General Meeting and its electoral process.