The government of Sierra Leone, led by Chief Minister David Moinina Sengeh, has reiterated its commitment to dialogue with the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) within the framework of the nation’s laws.

This statement was voiced during a post-election peace dialogue in Freetown, spearheaded by the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the Commonwealth, following the request of Sierra Leone’s Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC).

It would be recalled that the APC had previously rejected the June 24 election results, citing significant irregularities and breaches of electoral procedures. As a result, they opted out of participating in governance across various tiers, including the legislature and local councils.

In his speech at the dialogue on Monday, the Leader and 2023 Presidential Candidate of Sierra Leone’s opposition All People’s Congress (APC), Dr Samura Kamara mentioned that the ongoing post-election dialogue must produce a path to restoring democracy and the people’s ‘stolen votes’.

“Until our demands are met and the disaggregated data released by the ECSL, there is currently no winner or loser. For this dialogue, therefore, we are meeting with colleagues of an illegitimate administration.

“The questions which all of us -meaning Sierra Leoneans are asking Mr. Konneh and his team are: Why is the ECSL refusing to publish the disaggregated data by polling stations? What are they hiding and who are they working for? What audacity do they have to deny the request of the people of Sierra Leone?”

“Let me state clearly that our people are curiously waiting to see the outcome of this dialogue, that has to be a path to restoring democracy and the people’s voten. To bring him back the stolen votes. This is what our leadership (APC) stands for.” Kamara said.

In a direct response, Chief Minister Sengeh assured that all parties, including the APC, already possess the disaggregated results they are seeking. He emphasized the importance of adhering to the nation’s laws throughout the dialogue and expressed regret for any hurtful comments previously made by the government.

“I shall not speak on behalf of the ECSL. Disaggregated results exist in all of our hands.  That’s what the RRF forms are, that’s what we signed up for as a party. As a party, everybody had representatives at polling stations, everybody signed RRF forms. Those are the disaggregated results. They exist in our hands. As I said, I will not speak for ECSL. But I’ll speak for us that we’re satisfied with the disaggregated results. That we have. And I’m sure that the other parties who were there have their own disaggregated results.

“It is important that the words that we use for our members out from the public, or rather the words that the Members use, do not shape our leadership roles. We are leaders and it is important that we lead. And I don’t say this because as an aspersion, I say this to reaffirm our commitment as leaders.

“We believe that in spite of our own varying understandings and perceptions of the reality, we will converge and be united at the end of this dialogue for this land that we love. Finally, we are a country of laws, defined by the Constitution and all other laws that have come out of the parliament of our country.  You all know about that and I want to urge all of us that during these debates, during this dialogue, we must never, never, ever speak outside of the laws of the country.”, He added.