Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL) has this morning commenced voting process of the highly anticipated bye-elections in Constituency 005 in Kailahun and Constituency 073 in Port Loko district respectively.

According to ECSL polling staff commence conduct of polls in Pendembu and Songo in Constituencies 005, Kailahun and 073, PortLoko districts in the East and North of Sierra Leone respectively.

NEC stated that voting has started and the polls will remain open until 5pm local time.

The ruling Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) and the main opposition All Peoples Congress (APC) are the two key political parties that will battle today in these bye-election.

According to political analysists SLPP is sure of wining Kailahun which is one of their strongholds and APC is also sure of wining Port Loko which is also one of their strongholds.

However, the significance of this election is to know what margin will the SLPP defeat the APC in Kailahun and at what margin will the APC defeat SLPP in Port Loko, which will determine the progress either political party is into the strongholds of their opposition.

Many are averring that those margin of difference will be crucial in the 2023 parliamentary and presidential election results for both political parties.