The joint Pre-election Assessment Mission of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU), have Wednesday April 12, met with the leadership of the All Peoples Congress (APC) at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Freetown.
The Joint ECOWAS/AU mission is headed by the former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, who is deputized by the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace & Security (CPAPS), Ambassador Dr. Abdel-Fattau Moussa. Ambassador Moussa said this Mission was a follow up on several other engagements ECOWAS and the AU have had with elections stakeholders in Sierra Leone. The CPAPS further said they were in country to further understand the challenges facing political parties as the country heads closer to the multi-tier elections.
The Leader and Presidential Candidate of the APC, Dr Samura Kamara told the joint AU/ECOWAS delegation that his party was poised to win the June 24 election and that all he and his party wanted was a level playing field. He expressed grave concerns relating to Elections Management and threats to the peace safety and credibility of the polls.
The APC presidential candidate therefore urged the regional and continental bodies to support Sierra Leone to hold multi-party elections that are free, peaceful, transparent, credible and whose outcome should reflect the will of the electorates.
Dr Samura Kamara therefore reiterated the need for a level playing field so that political parties and citizens can fully participate in the democratic process.
The APC Running mate, Hon Chernor Maju Bah, spoke on the challenges relating to the legal framework and the lack of consensus building on constitutional processes and procedures.
Other members of the delegation include the Chairman, Alhaji Minkailu Mansaray, Deputy Chairman, Alhaji Osman Foday Yansaneh, the National Secretary General Lansana Dumbuya, Deputy National Secretary General Osman Timbo, the National Organising Secretary, Bai Mahmoud Bangura, the National Publicity Secretary, Sidi Yahya Tunis, the National President for the APC Young Congress, Prince Tholley, the deputy President of the Women’s Congress, Ya Alimamy Manso Kamara.
