The Consortium of Progressive Political Parties (CoPPP) has on Thursday issued a press release reacting to the announcement of election dates by the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL), and the issues of boundary delimitation before the 2023 elections.

According to CoPPP, their attention have been drawn to public notices issued by both State House and the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL) announcing that registration of voters in respect of the 2023 Presidential, Parliamentary, Local Council and Village Head Elections shall be done from 3rd September 2022 to 4th October 2022 and that the Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Council elections will be conducted on 24th June 2023.

“COPPP is extremely grateful for all those concerned parties, both local and international, that have in one way or the other contributed to the release of these dates, thereby removing the uncertainties and reducing the political tensions caused by suggestions from highly placed personalities about a possible postponement of these elections to 2024,” they stated.

CoPPP added that, “Now that the dates are out, COPPP would like to refer the Chairman and other members of the Electoral Commission to section 32 (11) of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone:

“In the exercise of any functions vested in it by this Constitution, the Electoral Commission shall not be subject to the direction or control of any person or authority.”

Furthermore, in Section 3 of the 2012 Public Elections Act it is clearly stated that “By virtue of subsection (11) of Section 32 of the Constitution, the Commission is an independent body.”

According to CoPPP, this means that the ECSL has an obligation of service to the State and the sovereign will of the people of Sierra Leone as embodied in the Constitution and not in any way to the particular interests of the Government in office.

“Against this background, we consider it to be alarming and a matter of national security concern that the ECSL in the past week, has been sending signals, through its engagements with the press that it is considering boundary delimitation before the 2023 general elections based on the anticipated results of the just concluded catastrophic mid-term census,” CoPPP stated.

They added that, ‘It is a well-known fact that this census was overwhelmingly rejected by the majority of Sierra Leoneans as indicated by the abysmally low level of public participation. Furthermore, the entire process was marred by so many irregularities including grave technical inadequacies and capacity issues that even the World Bank had to withdraw its support. It is obvious that the data derived from this botched census are contestable, unreliable and therefore un-usable especially in such an important public exercise as a general election. However, Statistics Sierra Leone (SSL) seems to be hell-bent on using its highly questionable mid-term census population figures to support the SLPP Government’s plans to draw up new boundaries and create new constituencies so as to give it undue advantage over opposition parties in the forthcoming elections.”

CoPPP noted that when Statistics launched the mid-term census, the Statistician General maintained that the purpose of this census was to provide data that will make service delivery to communities more effective. However, COPPP insisted at the time that rather than development, the real objective of the census was to hastily produce dubious population figures that would assist the SLPP Government in its efforts to cling to power in spite of their unprecedented unpopularity.

“COPPP’s fears were confirmed when the Electoral Commission published its 2020-2024 Strategic Plan, indicating that although the Commission’s calendar provided for boundary delimitation to be done in 2024, it could happen before the 2023 election if necessitated by the mid-term census results,” they noted.

“Now that the census has proved to be a sham, it will be treasonous for whatever results are obtained thereof to be used to corrupt and undermine the integrity of the ongoing electoral process. And certainly, opposition parties using COPPP as a platform will not be ready to allow the next general elections to be seriously compromised right from the start with the introduction of new boundaries that are based on the results of the most controversial and rejected census in the history of Sierra Leone.”

CoPPP concluded by reminding the Chairman of the Commission of his oath of office, his sacred duty to the country and his responsibility to conduct free, fair, transparent and credible elections that will ensure the stability and security of the State through peaceful democratic transitions.