The recently concluded Bumpeh Gao Paramount Chieftaincy election in Bo District, held on September 21, 2024, has sparked controversy following the declaration of Alfred Gbandona Sovula as the winner.

The election outcome has been officially challenged by Moses Sakpa Jibao Gbeckpa, an aggrieved party who filed a petition at the Bo High Court. Gbeckpa’s petition was directed against the National Electoral Commission (NEC), the Regional Southern Province Electoral Commission Office, and the Provisional Secretary of the Southern Province.

The court is tasked with determining whether Sovula will retain his position as Paramount Chief or if a re-run of the election will be required, depending on the evidence provided by the petitioner.

The case is currently under review, and the outcome remains pending as the Bo High Court examines the claims put forth by the aggrieved party.

The dispute highlights the importance of transparency and fair practices in local elections, as the region awaits the court’s decision, which could potentially alter the course of the chieftaincy leadership in Bumpeh Gao.