The Deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Umaru Napoleon Koroma on Wednesday 23rd November 2022 finally laid on the table of the House two major Electoral Regulations for next year’s multitier elections.

The following Electoral Regulations were laid in Parliament: The Public Elections (District Block Proportional Representation System) Regulations 2022; and The Public Elections (Local Councils Proportional Representation System) Regulations, 2022. A Notice of Motion has already been given by Hon. Musa Fofana of C4C for the Regulations so laid to be debated.

These Regulations will form part of the Laws of Sierra Leone after the expiration of 21 Days or until otherwise annulled by two-thirds of votes cast by Members of Parliament.

“Any orders, rules or regulations made by any person or authority under a power conferred on that behalf by this Constitution or any other law: (a) shall be Said before Parliament; (b) shall be published in the Gazette on or before the day they are so laid before Parliament, (c) shall come into force at the expiration y of a period of twenty-one days of being so laid unless Parliament, before the expiration of the laid period of twenty-one days, annuls any such orders, rules or regulations by the votes of not less than two-thirds of the Members of Parliament”.

The two Electoral Regulations were finally laid on Wednesday in Parliament after a prolonged delay of proceedings by the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) Members of Parliament, who were vehemently opposed to the Electoral Regulations.

The police assisted the Speaker of Parliament to restore decorum in the House for the proceedings of Parliament to commence and go on unhindered.

Meanwhile, the Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Dr. Abass Chernor Bundu has vowed to ensure that those Members of Parliament who were involved in the Wednesday 23rd November 2022 brawl in the Well of Parliament face the full penalty of the law.

The Speaker expressed dismay over the conduct of some MPs during Wednesday’s plenary sitting, adding that such an unwelcomed act will not go unpunished.
“The conduct that I observed on Wednesday in this Well will not go unnoticed and will not go without consequences. These consequences will be severe”, the Speaker assured.

He added that he has exercised patience beyond endurance, stating: “What I witnessed on this yesterday was an affront to the dignity of this House, an affront to my office as Speaker and it will no longer be tolerated, enough is enough.
The law will be allowed to take its consequences”.