By Henry Kargbo
The Electoral Commission Sierra Leone (ECSL) making public the campaign calendar for the 24th June 2023 elections clearly indicated that the political battle line drawn given the lavages to all political parties to transverse the nation with various manifestoes and campaign messages.
With the Western Area Rural and Urban accounting for the highest number of voters in Freetown and its environs, the political contest between the incumbent Sierra Leone People Party (SLPP) and the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party will obviously be a very interesting show.
According to the campaign calendar, the SLPP will make their maiden campaign appearance in the troublesome Western Rural District on May 26th, 5th June and 15th June respectively.
The SLPP, intends to make their presence in the rural district very visible with the sole motive of letting their members and supporters believe that the district is no longer the stronghold of the APC.
On the other hand, the APC party, will storms the same district on May 30th, three days after the SLPP shall have quit the district.
Fully convince that the district is APC, the main opposition would like to demonstrate that the said district is and will continues to be APC.
The campaign calendar also gives the main opposition APC 9th and 19th June for the party to engage voters with campaign messages and manifesto.
Freetown, according to ECSL voters’ register, account for over two million legible citizens that will participate in the voting process during polling day.
The SLPP, according to the calendar will make themselves visible on 31st May 10th and 20th June, 2023 in the capital, Freetown, while the APC will be holding the fort in Freetown on the 29th May, 8th-18TH June respectively.
With the advent of the proportional representation and district block system, the two political heavyweights SLPP and the APC stand hopeful that they will penetrate strongholds of their opponents.
The ECSL Chief, Mohamed Konneh said the Commission is ready to conduct free and fair elections across the country.
Konneh made this statement on Sunday 21st May 2023, at the Political Party Registration Commission (PPRC), office, Lamina Sankoh Street, Freetown. The ECSL Chief and National Returning Officer used the opportunity to announce that political parties camping calendar and the commission preparedness.
Konneh said ECSL has put everything in place in ensuring free, fair, transparent and creditable elections. He said the commission is also sets to ensure that the media, Civil Society Organizations and political parties that the elections will be conducted under a peaceful atmosphere.
He emphasized that the country security situation is relatively peaceful, therefore, the commission will not do anything that will result to division in the country.
Konneh assured that the commission has integrity to protect noting that nobody can buy the commission.
Inspector General of the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) William Fayia Sellu said that the police are well prepared to policing the June 24 elections across the country.
He pointed that SLP will be deploy at every polling station to ensure that the election is free fare creditable and peaceful.
Nationa Security Coordinator, Office of National Security (ONS), Abdulia Caulker said in enhancing free fair elections in the country, all must ensure that focus on be given to things that will bring the nation together.
He pointed out that politicians should distance themselves from hate speeches, drugs distribution to youths, misuse of social media, negative tribal messages which have the potentials of causing divisions in the nation.
Caulker reassured that the ONS will observe the campaign process throughout the country to ensure the process is free from all forms of political violence.
