PPRC Puts Political Parties, Security Sector And NEC Under Check Over Upcoming Kono Bye-Election

The Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC), has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with all relevant stakeholders ahead of the bye-election in Ward 091, Constituency 027 in Kono district, committing them to promote political tolerance, the peaceful conduct of the bye-election, which will involve contesting Political Parties and their Candidate and relevant stakeholders.

The bye-election is slated for Saturday 13th November, 2021. Political Parties have committed to the Commission that they will respect the will of the people and concede defeat graciously provided the elections are transparent, free and fair and that in the event they reject the result under a just cause, they shall use due process to register complaints through peaceful and legal means.

In addition, senior party members who are not members of the National, Eastern Region and Kono District Executives of their party are not permitted to go in and stay within Ward 091 during the campaign period and polling day except if they are residents or descendants of the Chiefdom where the said Ward 091 is located.

The Security Sector shall ensure that on-lookers are 100 meters away from the polling centers; enforce the ban on the display of secret society before, during and after the election and that armed guards attached to “VIPS” who are accredited party officials and or voters shall not be allowed to enter polling stations.

The Electoral Commission agreed that its staff members shall display high-level of professionalism in the discharge of their duties in line with Sections 32 & 33 of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone and the Public Elections Act of 2012

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Also, they shall preside over the conduct of the election without any interference or undue influence from election observers, political party stalwarts or party agents and that they will display the list of recruited ad hoc staff and political parties shall have the right to object to any recruited staff that is a known party operative before and during training.