The Coalition for Change Political Party (C4C) has in a letter dated 15th April 2023 signed by the party’s secretary and head of the secretariat, TINOEC, Hon. Saa Francis Bhendu called on the European Union and other bodies over the court injunction on the eve of their national delegate convention.

The said letter was copied to the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone, Justice Adrain Fisher, The Press, the Political Parties Registration Commission, Office of the National Security, Civil Societies, Human Right Commission,  Peace Commission Etc.

The Letter Reads;

“We are writing to bring to your attention the recent events surrounding the Coalition for Change (C4C) political party in Sierra Leone. The Transitional Interim National Officers Elections Committee (TINOEC), which was mandated by Justice Adrian Fisher from the High court of Sierra Leone to run the affairs of the C4C from the 20th of February 2023 until the National Delegate Conference, is deeply concerned about the recent injunction notice issued by Justice Aiah Simeon Allieu on Friday, 14th April 2023 and publicized on social media at exactly 6:00 pm that day. This was on the eve of the National Delegates Convention.

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TINOEC had already issued invitations, mobilized delegates, and committed considerable resources for the convention scheduled to take place on 16th April 2023. However, the one-page injunction document circulated on social media and purportedly done by Justice Aiah Simeon Allieu, restraining the C4C party from going ahead with the convention, was a complete surprise to us. We are still uninformed as to the basis for this ex parte application. This situation threatens our multi-party democracy and puts it at a dangerous crossroads.

It is unfortunate that the government would, or should allow its judiciary to strangulate the same system that brought it to power. In the interest of democracy, peace, and stability in our body politics, the C4C party must be allowed to hold its National Delegates Convention. We must not lose sight of the election calendar and the deadline for submission of names for the local councils’ elections on 17th April 2023, a day after the scheduled NDC. Restraining the C4C party at this point can only be perceived as a deliberate ploy to deprive the party of participating in the general elections on 24th June 2023.

We appeal to you, as our moral guarantors, to intervene on behalf of the C4C party so that it can hold its NDC within the shortest possible time. According to the most recent publication by the PPRC, only three political parties are eligible to contest the 24th June 2023 general elections, despite seventeen parties having contested in the 2018 general elections. Our democracy is at stake if this situation continues, and we implore you to act to prevent further damage and possible outrage by the people of Sierra Leone.

As key actors in our nation’s socio-economic development and the promotion, protection, and sustenance of our democracy and the rule of law, we commend your presence and contributions in Sierra Leone. As a political party, with the third largest membership in parliament, C4C will continue to look up to you, our international partners, for your supportive role in ensuring not only peaceful, free, fair and transparent elections but also the participation of all registered political parties in the 24th June 2023 general elections in Sierra Leone.

As a matter of urgency, the Transitional Interim National Officers Elections Committee (TINOEC) would like to meet with you today at your earliest convenience. 

Thank you for your concern, understanding, and swift intervention”.