Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio has said that the country’s presidential, parliamentary, and local council elections will proceed as scheduled on Saturday, June 24th, 2023.
Bio made this known in a presidential address to the nation on Tuesday.
Despite calls for postponement from opposition party supporters, citing concerns about preparation and the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) not addressing demands from the All People’s Congress (APC) party, Bio emphasized that Sierra Leone is governed by laws and principles and will not tolerate threats to peace and security.
In his address, President Bio reiterated the significance of the elections, highlighting that they represent democratic ideals, allowing citizens to freely exercise their constitutional right to vote without fear.
“These elections are not merely a procedural formality; they embody our democratic ideals, where every citizen has the privilege to exercise their constitutional right to vote freely and without fear.
“Let me reiterate in no uncertain terms that the multi-party elections will proceed as scheduled on June24th, 2023. There shall be no postponement or cancellation. We must also wholeheartedly accept the people’s verdict to whom our Constitution confers sovereignty.
“The elections shall serve as a litmus test for our democratic values and unwavering commitment to progress. Let us seize this opportunity to fortify our democracy, save our institutions, and forge a stronger solution that embraces the aspiration of all its citizens.
President Bio also expressed concerns about the alarming surge in the propagation of “fake news, propaganda, and alternative facts” amplified on social media. He called upon Sierra Leoneans to exercise caution and responsibility, harnessing the potential of social media as a conduit for truth and transparency during the crucial elections.
“It falls upon each of us to collectively endeavour to harness the potential of social media as a conduit for truth and transparency throughout these crucial elections. Let us fully comprehend the magnitude of our influence when sharing information online and wield this power judiciously.” He said.
Bio further tasked other Presidential Candidates and the leadership of Political Parties to publicly denounce and dissociate themselves from all forms of hate speech, incitement to violence, tribal bigotry, regionalism, and any other actions that jeopardise the peace, unity, and stability of Sierra Leone.
“I implore all fellow presidential candidates and the leadership of political parties to publicly denounce and dissociate themselves from all forms of hate speech, incitement to violence, tribal bigotry, and any other action that jeopardise the peace and stability of our nation.”
Read President Bio’s full statement HERE
Bio is just a presidential candidate, stop addressing him as president. Wither or not the election is going to be postponed we’ll know after the APC peaceful protest tomorrow. Who’s Bio to decide over what or what not to do
After God then a leader.
Mr President had said it all.
We need peace.
When you vote go home saful and wait for the result saful. If you win celebrate saful. If you lose biya n sidon saful.
So finally June 24 is the final day for sierra leone election
Nothing is changing that date
Good message from prezo bio, be a man, take hard decision for anyone that wants to try you
All I know is that this election must be postponed by hook or crook
Bio is still a president because he has already win the election.
The president has spoken, you unpatriotic, distracted people that takes your party higher than the country can postpone your own slated date and not this one that have been approved by ECSL and the President of the Country.
“Lontha”
He’s talking of hate speech and tribalism were in he’s the father of all what he had stated in his speech
Why can’t you allow the people of Sierra Leone to choose their leader instead you are planning to rig the elections in your favor Allah will hold responsible for all what you are doing in this country
This is not free &fear election let me tell you .
All we know no election on that date by thunder by fire
Peaceful election🗳️🗳️🗳️🗳️
Peaceful election🗳️🗳️🗳️🗳️ please 🙌🏿🙏🏿🤲🏿👏🏿
You are fooling yourself every day, president Bio is still our president. If you want take it or leave it. Samura has done nothing good to Sierra Leone. And he only wish to come to the presidential race to satisfy EBK, and giving a state burial. In all his 40 years plus, all he do for Sierra Leone, is hostality and bad economy to all Sierra Leonean. Sierra Leonean, wake up
Go to hell bio we want free and fair elections you are not the one to tell us that elections are not going to be postpone.You have set everything against the people’s right because you knew you wouldn’t win fairly
Let’s wait and see the outcome of our peaceful protest today
Nous voulons la paix avant et après les élections.
Mr le président, soit président de la nation et non pour un parti politique s´il vous plaît. Ayons pitié de nous les pauvres population.
It has to be postpone by force
Only a coward can be a full, we are going to exercise our franchise come Saturday June 24
Let’s accept our democratic principles and abides to our constitutional laws for the seek of peace in our beloved nation, mind you##MamaSalone##is above all political party, ethnicity and regional
Either you like or not nothing will change Saturday th June is the the Election Day president bio people choice back to power
All we are praying for let there be peace in our beloved nation
We need peaceful election on Saturday please 🙏
the PAOPA Missdirection government has killed many innocent sierra leoneans, an autocratic government with no freedom of speech, no justice for the poor, hunger and starvation on the people of sierra leone, sky rocketing on price of commodities, rape and human rights abuse is the order of the day, since day 1 of this misdirection government up to date
Why is that some of the Sierra leoneans they don’t have conciousness,why do you guys want to raise a concern about the postpondment of June 24 election, when you fully know that time is very close, people have to go to their normal business.
my brothers and sisters this election should not be postpond, coming Saturday we are going to exercise our franchise either you like it or not.
Sometime in life we have to face reality. We are govern by the laws of our beloved country. But because we ignorant of the laws which is no excuse, we keep on saying things that are not true. Saturday presidential elections, councils elections, parliamentary elections according to law will go as scheduled by the Grace of Allah. What some of us fail to understand is no amount of treats to our democracy will prevail.This is election
Will and must take place because every party and presidential candidate appends their signatures to the documents that govern the election process.
If you have a problem with the election process go to court. Lonta
Closely studies the comment 😁