AYV News May 17, 2023

8 Provisional Presidential Candidates have in a joint release commended the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (EC-SL) for their continued efforts in the conduct of the June elections in a free and fair manner.

The provisional candidates have dissociated themselves from the All People’s Congress (APC) press release of threat to the election, while also committing to peace and a free, fair elections.

In the joint press release, the provisional candidates said: “As nominated Presidential candidates of eight (8) registered Political Parties poised to take part in the June 24h General Elections, we are compelled to talk to the public on the following issues:

1. “All eight Presidential Candidates here representing our various registered Political Parties are active members and participants of the EC-SL’s Political Parties Liaison Committee (PPLC).
2. “We acknowledge that the EC-SL PPLC comprises stakeholder representatives of ALL Political Parties that meet every two weeks to discuss matters about and around the June 24th 2023 elections.

• “We also note that the EC-SL-PPLC Stakeholders Engagement has as key participants, Civil Society Organisations, the Sierra Leone Police and the Political Parties Regulation Commission.

1. “We have been ardent participants in all EC-SL stakeholder’s engagements since the inception of the political process that will lead to the June 24h 2023 elections.
2. “We acknowledge that APPA monitored the BVR exercise from registration, exhibitions and distribution of ID Cards nationwide; and remain satisfied with the entire process especially those relating to individual Political parties.
3. “We acknowledge that the PPLC has been instrumental in taking decisions on key EC-SL proposals starting from registration to date.

• “We also recall that all Political Parties at the PPLC Commended the EC-SL for a successful BVR exercise nationwide.
• “We are reminded that at a particular PPLC meeting on the 30th March 2023, EC-SL did a power-point presentation on the Voter Cards detailing their security features and how it is different from the previous cards. Of particular importance was the Voter Identification Number (VIN) which remains unprecedented.

1. “The EC-SL-PPLC also noted the poor-quality photos on some voter ID Cards but, no outright condemnation was resolved at to change it or not use it during elections.

“Given the above observations, we the eight (8) Presidential Candidates of the political parties listed below, wish to make public the following:

• “That we align ourselves with other Political Parties and election stakeholders to affirm our commitment to a peaceful, smooth and successful elections process.
• “That while we acknowledge that some voter ID Cards have problems with the photos on them, such problems does not require their outright condemnation that will warrant our rejection and non-participation in the June 24 Elections.
• “That we dissociate ourselves from the Press Release of the All People’s Congress which calls for protest and threatening not to take part in the June 24th 2023 elections.
• “As Presidential Candidates of our Political Parties, we want to assure our memberships and the public of our participation in the June 24th Elections. We will not be part of any planned demonstration or boycott”.