Alfred Peter Conteh, a prominent a strong APC steward, has formally written to the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL), demanding the publication of nationwide disaggregated results from the June 24, 2023, general elections.
Conteh’s letter, addressed to ECSL’s commissioner, highlights growing public concerns about the transparency and credibility of the election process, which declared President Julius Maada Bio the winner.
In his letter, Conteh referenced remarks made by the United States Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Bryan Hunt, who had earlier raised concerns about the absence of credible results to justify the ECSL’s declaration of President Bio’s victory. Conteh emphasized the sensitivity of the ambassador’s statement and its implications for the legitimacy of the current administration, stating, “The constitutionality and legality of the current occupier of the Statehouse in the Republic of Sierra Leone is questionable.”
Conteh criticized both the ECSL and major political actors, including the All Peoples Congress (APC) and the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP), for failing to address claims of irregularities. He highlighted allegations from APC officials that their party had secured a majority of 57.15% based on 70% of Result Reconciliation Forms (RRFs) in their possession. These claims, he noted, have not been refuted or clarified by the ECSL.
Conteh called the situation a “democratic fiasco” and urged the ECSL to release the detailed election results to restore public confidence and address concerns of electoral injustice. He argued that the ECSL’s refusal to provide the results violates the Freedom of Information Act and undermines democracy.
“This is an electoral injustice that must be vehemently frowned upon by all Sierra Leoneans, not just APC supporters,” Conteh said, urging members of parliament, councilors, and mayors from all political factions to join his call for transparency.
Conteh also criticized the ECSL for failing to provide transparency during the vote-counting process and accused the commission of potentially succumbing to external influences. He warned that the ongoing lack of clarity surrounding the elections could exacerbate Sierra Leone’s political and economic instability.
“The fundamentals of our democracy as outlined in the Public Elections Act of 2022 were openly violated,” Conteh asserted, urging the ECSL to respect its mandate to the people of Sierra Leone and release the disaggregated results.
The activist concluded by calling on political leaders, including aspiring flagbearers from the APC and SLPP, to demand transparency and accountability from the ECSL. Conteh stressed that resolving the doubts surrounding the 2023 elections is critical to rebuilding trust in Sierra Leone’s democratic institutions and moving the nation forward.
