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The Chairman of the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC) has raised concerns over the All People’s Congress (APC) party’s preparedness to compete effectively in the country’s forthcoming general elections next year due to its prolonged internal power struggle.
Lawyer Abdullai Masiambay Bangurah blamed this problem on the sharp divide among members of the Interim Governance Transition Committee (IGTC), and also the Transitional Interim Independent elections Management Committee (TIIEMC) as the electoral circle is at hand.
Mr Bangurah fears that the party’s internal struggle may lead to a national security threat; judging from the August 10 violent anti-government insurrection which erupted in part of Freetown and two other towns in the north of the country.
The PPRC doubts that if what is happening in the APC is not taken care of ahead of the tight deadlines, the party cannot pose a serious challenge in the June 2023 election.
The PPRC Boss said: “We expect that by now they are supposed to organize themselves so that they can compete effectively in the 2023 election that is looming.”
Mr Bangura said if the APC fails to settle themselves ahead of time and fails to compete effectively in the election, they may end up giving the impression that they have been stifled by the government, and the reaction from their members may be unfavorable.
He said the division within the 21-man IGTC has continued to widen ever since its formation, as the PPRC has received contrasting responses within the committee in response to the 12 objections received from members of the public to the rules for the conduct of the party’s lower-level elections.
“I first received a response signed by the Secretary, Hon. Abdul Kargbo…a day after that, I also received another one approved by the Chairman of the IGTC,” said Mr Bangurah during a press conference at the Commission’s headquarters in Freetown.
He added that both responses were conflicting as one side will be conceding to an objection, while the other side will be arguing or opposing an objection. There is still no agreement, according to the PPRC Chairman.
The rules for the conduct of the lower-level elections have been published in the Government Gazette and became effective on November 1, and the body that is supposed to conduct the lower-level elections has not been constituted and the 60 days deadline has begun.
