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The main opposition in Sierra Leone, All People’s Congress (APC) has denied the ban on street rallies placed by the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC).
The PPRC said the ban was a “unanimous decision” made by political parties.
The Chairman of the Commission, Abdulai Masiyambay Bangurah confirmed that the decision was reached after consultations with political parties in the country during the 7th Multi-stakeholders Elections Steering Committee Meeting held on Thursday at the Bintumani Hotel in Aberdeen, Freetown.
This development came after political parties and civil society organisations met on the 27th March to devise modes of campaign for political parties ahead of the 24 June polls.
The PPRC claimed that it was at that meeting that political parties agreed to place a ban on street rallies and instead choose to meet with supporters at a specific location.
Conversely, the leadership of the APC denied agreeing with the PPRC. The Party’s Deputy Publicity Secretary told Concord Times that they will hold rallies whenever they have campaigns.
Political analysts in the country have cited that the principal reason for which the PPRC could have wanted to ban rallies this election is due to the increase in civil disobedience on the streets. They said that over the years such rallies have disturbed the rights of other citizens.
