Supreme Court’s Registry on Alert to Receive Objections to Presidential Nominations

Competent sources at the Registry of the Supreme Court of Sierra Leone have intimated Awareness Times Newspaper that they are now on alert to receive and speedily process any Legal Objection that may be lodged there against any Presidential Candidate nominated for the June 24th 2023 Presidential Elections in Sierra Leone.

According to the Laws of the land under Section 46 (1) of Public Elections Act No. 17 of 2022, when the period for nomination closes, the Chief Electoral Commissioner (CEC) as National Returning Officer for the Presidential Elections, should “immediately” cause the publication of the Names, Addresses and Occupations of each Presidential Candidate (and his/her Running Mate) alongside the name of the Political Party which nominated him/her and the names, addresses and occupations of each of the three (3) Party Executives who nominated that Presidential Candidate.

The Law says that if any citizen wants to object candidacy of any Presidential Candidate, such Objection can only be done after Section 46(1) of the Public Elections Act is followed by the CEC. Until that is done, no objections or petitions can be lodged at the Supreme Court against any Presidential Candidate.

Konneh has however not yet obeyed Section 46(1) nor has he given any reason for his lapse. He had earlier issued a schedule stating he would make such publication on May 10th 2023.

A total of 13 Presidential Candidates were nominated by 13 of the country’s 17 registered political parties. The two most important candidates are His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Wonie Peter Bio who is running for re-election to his final term under the governing SLPP and Hon. Dr. Samura Matthew Wilson Kamara of the main opposition APC.

Although the May 10th scheduled date has elapsed, there will still be a 7 days window within which any citizen can object against Bio, Kamara or any of the other 11 nominated candidates. However the 7 days will start to count from the day that Konneh will eventually do the Section 46(1) publication of the names and details of the nominated candidates.