6:00pm: This is the end of Sierraloaded live coverage of the Sierra Leone Parliament Speaker and Deputy Speaker election. Thank you for joining us.

5:52pm: The result for deputy speaker of Parliament is announced. 94 votes for Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh and 47 votes for Hon. Haja Miatta Amara. Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh is declared deputy Speaker of Parliament.

5:30pm: Voting process for the election of deputy speaker of Parliament has begun.

5:15pm: The opposition All People’s Congress (APC) has nominated Hon. Haja Miatta Amara as its candidate for the election of Deputy Speaker.

5:05pm: The ruling Sierra Leone’s People’s Party (SLPP) has nominated Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh as its candidate for Deputy Speaker.

5:00pm: The election of deputy Speaker of Parliament is set to begin.

4:45pm: Newly elected Speaker, Hon. Sengepoh Soloman Thomas tenders’ resignation as deputy Speaker and Member of Parliament. He takes his seat as Speaker.

4:30pm: The result for the third round is announced. 128 votes for Hon. Sengepoh Soloman Thomas. He is now declared Speaker of Parliament.

4:15pm: Voting process for the fourth ballot has begun.

4:00pm: APC nominee, Hon. Daniel Brima Koroma withdraws from the Speakership contest.

3:45pm: The result for the third round is announced. 95 votes for Hon. Sengepoh Soloman Thomas and 50 votes for Hon. Daniel Brima Koroma respectively. Both candidates did not meet the required two third majority of the Parliament. Election will now proceed to a fourth ballot.

3:00pm: Voting process for the third ballot has begun.

2:44pm: The result for the second round is announced. 96 votes for Hon. Sengepoh Soloman Thomas and 49 votes for Hon. Daniel Brima Koroma respectively. Both candidates did not meet the required two third majority of the Parliament. Election will now proceed to a third ballot.

2:15pm: Voting process for the second ballot has begun.

2:10pm: The vote result has been announced. 93 votes for Hon. Sengepoh Soloman Thomas and 52 votes for Hon. Daniel Brima Koroma respectively. Both candidates did not meet the required two third majority of the Parliament. Election will now proceed to a second ballot.

1:40pm: Voting has started in the well of Parliament.

1:30pm: The opposition All People’s Congress (APC) has nominated Hon. Daniel Brima Koroma as its candidate for the election of the Speaker.

1:15:pm: The ruling Sierra Leone’s People’s Party (SLPP) has nominated Hon. Sengepoh Soloman Thomas as its candidate.

12:00pm: Argument arose over what should constitute the two third majority of the Parliament. The APC says the two third majority should constitute all 149 members of parliament. The SLPP say members who are absent should not be counted. The house concluded that all members of the Parliament will be counted and two third majority will be 98 members.

11:30am: The APC says the resignation or retirement of the former Speaker of Parliament should have been addressed to Parliament and not the President.

11:15am: The retirement letter of the former Speaker, Dr Abass Bundu was read to the house.

11:00am: Welcome to Sierraloaded live coverage of the 2024 election of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Sierra Leone Parliamen. The Parliament of Sierra Leone has just convened for its siting today May 2, 2024.