It is important to underline the following brief points, which are part of the real issues that should form the basis of the real conversation on the elections:

1. We must note that one of the presidential candidates, Samura Kamara, has now raised concerns regarding ECSL’s impartiality and non-adherence to democratic elections. It’s legally compulsory on ECSL to timely look into the concerns.

2. ECSL is legally obligated to listen to concerns raised by any candidate regarding the elections process. Candidates need to be satisfied that the laws and rules governing the elections are being followed. ECSL must create a level playing field for all candidates to freely compete in this elections.

3. Every concern raised by any candidate in a given election deserves to be genuinely and timely examined by all democratic organizations. Transparency and integrity are crucial to electoral democracy and they can’t be sacrificed.

4. Concerns raised by candidates regarding the conduct of an election have to be understood as part of the required actions politicians take to protect votes and voters. A fair electoral process is one that guarantees that votes and voters are protected.

5. Candidates have a democratic responsibility to protect the votes of their supporters. Thus, when candidates highlight issues that truly affect the conduct of democratic elections, they’re only protecting the potential votes of their supporters.

6. We must note that it’s right for any candidate in an election to raise concerns relating to the conduct of elections, and those concerns must be addressed. ECSL isn’t doing charity in organizing elections. It’s obligatory on them to organize democratic elections.

7. Maada Bio, as the incumbent candidate who appointed the chief electoral commissioner, has a responsibility to ensure that ECSL conducts a free, fair, peaceful and transparent elections. He has been challenged to do so.

8. President Maada Bio and the ECSL are obligated to provide the legally required environment that guarantees the conduct of peaceful and democratic elections. It’s a constitutional responsibility on the government and the ECSL to provide the required peaceful environment that guarantees the conduct of democratic elections.

9. All democratic organizations involved in monitoring the electoral process must encourage the Maada Bio administration and ECSL to fulfill their constitutional obligations to conduct democratic elections.

10. Democratic organizations, and friends of Sierra Leone, should continue impressing upon political leaders and election management institutions the need to hold truly democratic elections. Democracies are built through constant negotiations!!

The people of Sierra Leone must be able to exercise their constitutional right to democratically elect their representatives in a free, fair, peaceful, and transparent environment. No one should seek to take that right away from them.

Chernoh Alpha M. Bah

Africanist Press

USA