2023 Elections: APC Raises Concerns Over Electoral Malpractices

Sierra Leone’s main opposition party, the All People’s Congress (APC), has issued a press release urging the international community and Sierra Leoneans to take notice of serious electoral malpractices that could potentially undermine the forthcoming elections scheduled for June 24, 2023.

The APC accuses the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) of violating constitutional provisions and the Public Elections Act (PEA) of 2022, despite repeated warnings from the party.

Key issues highlighted by the APC in their statement include:

Flawed Voter Registration Process: The APC claims that the voter registration process has disenfranchised a significant number of eligible voters who are perceived to be unsupportive of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP).
Deficiencies in Voter Identification Cards: The APC criticizes the poor quality of voter identification cards, citing omissions, mismatches, missing photos and names, and overall inadequacies that render the cards unfit for their intended purpose.
Incomplete Final List of Voters: The ECSL is accused of releasing an incomplete Final List of Voters (FLV) or Voters Register, which violates Section 13 of the PEA of 2022 and fails to conform to international best practices. A comparison with the FLV from the 2018 elections reportedly confirms this discrepancy.
Delayed Completion of Voter Registration: The ECSL allegedly failed to complete the voter registration process and related procedures six months before the scheduled elections, as mandated by Section 18 of the PEA of 2022. This delay hampers the APC’s ability to effectively plan and campaign for the June 24, 2023 elections.
Concerns Regarding District Level Certification: The APC expresses concern over the ECSL’s apparent intent to bypass district level certification of results, as outlined in Sections 92(2) of the PEA of 2022. The party argues that this level of certification is crucial, especially given the implementation of the District Block System for these elections.
Attacks and Brutalization of APC Supporters: The APC condemns what it describes as “systematic and cruelly machinated attacks” on its supporters, even on scheduled campaign days. These acts of violence against APC members are seen as a threat to the peace and security of Sierra Leone.
Failure to Ensure Justice: The APC criticizes the judiciary and other state authorities for failing to guarantee justice for its members and uphold relevant provisions of the law across the country.

As a response to these concerns, the APC has announced that their Leader and Presidential Candidate for the 2023 Presidential Elections, Dr. Samura Mathew Wilson Kamara, will address the nation and the international community on June 14, 2023. During this address, Dr. Kamara will present the party’s stance on the aforementioned issues and propose a way forward for the upcoming multi-tier Presidential, Parliamentary, and Local elections.