Independent candidate sweeps APC stronghold

The Chief Electoral Commissioner, Nfa Alie conteh has pronounced Ibrahim Kamara and Ibrahim Sorie Koroma councilors of Ward 139 (Kambia) and Ward 212 (Tonkolili) respectively.

An independent candidate Ibrahim Kamara contested alongside candidates from the ruling All Peoples Congress and the Alliance Democratic Party in Ward 139 constituency 42 in the Kambia District Northern Sierra Leone.

The election in Kambia was peaceful with a voter turnout of sixty-one point six-one percent.  However, the chairperson of the national elections watch Marcella Samba Sesay condemned the presence of party stakeholders in the election.

Report stated that the presence of the Former Ambassador to the People’s Republic China, Alimamy Petito Koroma created some irregularities in the township as well as journalists. On the other hand, Petito Koroma however denied any act of irregularities by him.

He rather accused electoral officials of the polling centers of being partisan and not following normal procedures of elections. He said the action of not following election procedures by electoral officials was deliberate contrive to victimize the ruling APC.

However, the polling station manager, Ibrahim Kamara said the electoral procedures are correct and challenged the former ambassador to prove his allegations.

“There were attempts of voting malpractices and two people were handed over to the police for presenting fake identity cards.” Kamara noted.

The winner of the bye-election Ibrahim Kamara expressed happiness and gratification over his victory and called for peace and tranquility in the district.

Many people are going with the contemplation that the triumphant independent candidate was sponsored by one of the presidential aspirants of the Sierra Leones People’s party, Dr Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella but that subject to subsequent confirmation.

The most interesting aspect of the election was that the main opposition SLPP did not contest in the just concluded election.

“…Kamara Ibrahim, Independent Candidate, who having polled the highest number of valid votes cast, duly elected councilor of ward 139, constituency 042, in the number District.” Mohamed N’fah-Alie Conteh announced.