US Senator Urges ECSL to Release Disaggregated Polling Station Results

US Senator for Idaho and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Jim Risch, urged the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) on Friday, June 30, 2023, to release disaggregated polling station results of the June 24 polls.

“If the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone is an independent body concerned with conducting a free, fair, transparent, and credible election, then it must release disaggregated polling station results for Sierra Leoneans and the world to see,” Senator Risch said.

Risch also urged Bio to encourage the ECSL to release the disaggregated polling station results to clear “looming doubts about the legitimacy of his victory.”

The Republican Senator expressed his concern about Sierra Leone’s electoral process, particularly the “lack of transparency and legitimate concerns of voters, candidates, political parties, observers, and international partners.”

He also expressed dissatisfaction with the harassment, defamation, and targeting of citizen observers in the West African nation.

The Chief Electoral Commissioner of the ECSL announced the incumbent Julius Maada Bio as the winner on Tuesday, with 56 percent, thereby avoiding a runoff with the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party.

Bio was sworn in hours after the result was announced.

The leadership of the main opposition contested the result, stating that it did not reflect the will of the majority of the local population.

APC Parliamentarian Abdul Kargbo hinted that they would take legal action against the ECSL.

Some local and international observers have also noted that the election lacked transparency.

Comment(s)

Disclaimer: Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Sierraloaded or any employee thereof.

Choesayarr | 2023-07-02 01:33:55

All or most contributors here are APC or APC sympathizers. I see that. I have only one question. Do you recall what Christiana Thorp did to give the vote to Koroma? The US can do nothing to change our election results. They all (The collective West) make us look like beggars because they have been exploiting us since slavery. These are the guys who believe Trump should be president again. Imagine that. The root of all evil is not the love for money. It really is ignorance; and I see a lot of it on display here. But as you enjoy the exchange of your immaterial comments, just understand this: The US or any other entity does NOT set our agenda, let alone correct it. I love you guys, the APC enthusiasts, to bathe in the bliss of your ignorance. Just keep this in mind: BIO IS PRESIDENT TILL 2028.
Chowsaya | 2023-07-02 01:25:58

All or most contributors here are APC or APC sympathizers. I see that. I have only one question. Do you recall what Christiana Thorp did to give the vote to Koroma? The US can do nothing to change our election results. They all (The collective West) make us look like beggars because they have been exploiting us since slavery. These are the guys who believe Trump should be president again. Imagine that. The root of all evil is not the love for money. It really is ignorance; and I see a lot of it on display here. But as you enjoy the exchange of your immaterial comments, just understand this: The US or any other entity does NOT set our agenda, let alone correct it. I love you guys, the APC enthusiasts, to bathe in the bliss of your ignorance. Just keep this in mind: BIO IS PRESIDENT TILL 2028.
Joseph Bio | 2023-07-01 12:15:39

We the poor sierra leoneans pleaded to the international community to settle disputes of democracy in our country, the killing of innocent people in our country is too much since the SLPP government emerge in power they started the killing intimidation lawlessness and wickedness until now, we pleaded to the international community to resture democracy in sierra Leone please 🙏 it your night to intervain because you are the Pinnacle occupier of the super world power 💪💪💪💪💪
| 2023-07-01 11:25:08

This action by the international community is very timely and appropriate, for the cause of peace, discipline, and Justice on electoral comm issioners in Africa, that think that they can gamble the right the life and the feature of defenseless civilians, and go Scott free, no way. Bravo to the USA, Great Britain, and every other international bodies, that concerns about the promotion of Democracy, and the rule of law.
AlusineTuray | 2023-07-01 09:45:25

Please USA déport Sierra Leoneans in your country that is incolaboration to kill Democracy in our country..They run away from our country because, no freedom of speach,no Democracy,no justice and the standard of living in our country is very very hard .We can not live half à dollar per day.people are seriously dieing in my country due to hunger and suppression by thé Government.Please USA ,help to restore Democracy in Sierra leone.Take à look at thé on going election in sierra leone no transparency,no free an fair.please USA react now .otherwise Democracy is useless in sierra leone. LONG LIVE USA MAY ALLAH CONTINUE TO BLESS YOU....
| 2023-07-01 08:41:19

The ECSL is mandated on to announce election results that are credible, this their so called results are not credible. They have rigged this elections years ago. They just come to announce a result that they have been working on solely with the SLPP.
Saidu L Turay | 2023-07-01 08:38:40

Bio supporters are still on the rampage mostly in remote areas across the country killing and burning houses of supporters of the main opposition party A P C. Bio had committed a coup on democracy. He and his cabinet should be given travel band and assets frozen to stop such madness to democracy.
Bobby | 2023-07-01 08:14:38

This is a president who said he is the father of democracy and today, he is killing democracy by forcing himself to a second without the majority of Sierra Leoneans sad! I urge the international community to reverse these elections to the reflection of the majority Sierra Leoneans who have voted for a change for their sufferings under this democracy thieving magpie president.
| 2023-07-01 07:52:36

As for you morlai kanu, what makes the difference between sierra Leone and the U S, democracy didn't exist in our country right,is that what you are trying to say or because we are black or we are Africans and they are Americans. please think like an adult.
| 2023-07-01 07:40:09

Look at this slpp fulls the way he talking okay if mohamed konneh is a Man enough let'him don't produce the data that the international committee asking for let we see how madda bio can run this country bethought those people
Kanu Morlai | 2023-07-01 07:35:04

There is nothing that the U S Government can do the way they are opprorating their system of Government is not the same here the U S Government trying to miss uses our constitutions that gives the mandate the ECSL to call election results nothing else.Why other sectors servotage our Country to the World. The constitution do not call for they have behave stupidly it is not their mandate to pronounce any results to the public with out the consultation of the chairman of the ECSL
Suma | 2023-07-01 07:22:17

Only foolish people who do not know how an ordinary Sierra Leonean struggle to get food for a day can argue over this result,but it's clear that Bio lost this elections and he must leave us in peace..there is so many killings,harassment on citizens of this country under his five years in governance we are tired of him so let him leave
| 2023-07-01 07:20:40

I am sick and tired with repeated boring News on your blog these days.
Alpha Bangura | 2023-07-01 03:17:57

This is not about APC or SLPP but about we the people of Sierra Leone. If the election is Free, Fair, Credible and Transparent as promised by the ECSL, then they should release everything we need to know cause it's our democratic rights as citizens of Sierra Leone 🇸🇱 to know.
| 2023-07-01 02:59:51

You people are talking about America conducting an election without Sierra Leone been intervain but can I say something US did not depends on Sierra Leone for nothing at all. But Sierra Leone depends on donations from foreign country for everything whatsoever. Without America, Sierra Leone can not do nothing with out donation. They had donated a lot of money towards these elections, so they have the right to do everything because they strongly believe african people for their dishonesty and fraud.
Jerry Best | 2023-07-01 01:19:59

While I am not against the commission producing the said results, but I am seriously questioning the legitimacy of a us senator urging a whole sovereign state to do..... which the observers would have insisted on while on the ground to avoid the assumptions they are creating. Following the comments of sylvia long ago and the recent revelation of carter center in the USA, it appears to me that these people are paid for all these they are doing.
Alieumansaray | 2023-07-01 01:11:56

This is a disgrace to the ecsl and sierra leone government to release a results that everybody knows that the results is lack of transparency. But the ecsl promise us to conduct a free fair and transparency election. Why is all this fraud and corrupt results. Is the aunty corruption commission in sierra leone working in a free fair and transparent manners?
Augustine Amara | 2023-07-01 00:16:45

America is having no hands in Sierra Leone Electioneering Process prior to that When Donald Trump disputed the victory of Joe Badien which other country or an individual asked the US elections head to disclose the disputed figures? Please Senator limit your authority to the USA. In 2012 Former ECSL Boss Christiana Thrope hands was in the down fall of the SLPP by them and after the pronouncement of the result she directed the people to go to Police. Please Senator your point is silly.
| 2023-06-30 23:54:05

If that so why the SLPP supporters are complaining? If you people's win you won is nothing to fear but I believe that Bio is not match to Dr. Samura believe it or not that's the fact Bio is nothing but a scammer to his people 😹😹 See who we have here Mr. President (how oba dea for we ere Garie na Le 5 for cup oo how watin d sup ar kn say u nor dea u travel 🤪)
| 2023-06-30 23:32:42

There is no democratic state in the world not even America .mr Trump still parading with the big lies
Kai- Samba | 2023-06-30 23:20:05

HMMMM! JUST MAKE SURE SALONE DON'T START BEGGING FOR GRANTS OR LOANS WHEN WE START TO STARVE.... IF THEY FINANCE US, THEN THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T GO TO ANOTHER CONFLICT. MAKE SENSE?
Saio marrah | 2023-06-30 23:07:45

Mr senator continue so that our democracy will rest in peace in Sierra Leone
| 2023-06-30 22:49:46

Indeed it's a coup set up by some unpariotic citizens against the will of the people. This same unlegitimate government build confidence in the people to exercise their anger against dictatorship on the ballot box after undertaking sries of inhuman acts against the citizens. Some of these evil act are: Killing,tribal division, corruption,illegal arrest of political opponents,basterlizing the Constitution, silencing the media,the soldiers and the police forcess and social ctivities,romoving people from jobs, underpayment,violating women's right to name but few. Today,they are still hunting us by stealing our power in a broad daylight. For the sake of democracy which the Americans, Europeans, Asians, Austrians and Africans had fought,we need urgent intervention. If not,Bio's president would be emulated by other nation in a shortest time.
| 2023-06-30 22:48:51

The will of the people most reflect to the ballot box, this is very key for the threshold of democracy.
| 2023-06-30 22:46:03

Senator talk to heads not the piece tall
Shek | 2023-06-30 22:25:08

When Donald Trump disputed the victory of Joe Badien which other country or an individual asked the US elections Head to disclose the disputed figures?Please Senator limit limit your authority to the USA.
| 2023-06-30 22:16:59

When America normally conduct election is it they way African countries or leaders Audit them?
Koroma | 2023-06-30 22:12:17

That's their business all we are interested in is the president Bio's victory. The spewing of the hoax by the so-called International observers is nothing to worry about. They are all crooks. If they want , let them go to the Hague.
Yusifu Joseph Sesay | 2023-06-30 22:03:27

I totally agree with the US Government about this move. The results reflect to the will of the peoples.
| 2023-06-30 21:53:34

Hmmmmmm
| 2023-06-30 21:42:57

Sure we should ensure democracy