Sierra Leone’s electoral chair tells compatriots to emulate Obi for keeping his promise
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Sierra Leonean Political Parties Regulations Commission (PPRC) Chairman Abdulai Bangura has urged politicians in the country to take a cue from Nigeria’s Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi and conduct themselves peacefully.
Bangura stressed the point in Freetown at a press conference addressed by the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL), the Office of National Security (ONS), and the PPRC.
The three bodies addressed various concerns raised by stakeholders in the election held on Saturday as voters await the full result being tallied.
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Obi’s example
In the presidential election held on February 25 in Nigeria, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, got 8.79 million votes, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 6.98 million votes, and Obi of the Labour Party (LP) 6.1 million.
Both Atiku and Obi are challenging the election result in court.
Bangura urged Sierra Leonean politicians to learn from Obi and conduct themselves peacefully regardless of the result, stressing they should emulate Obi’s choice of peaceful resolution of election concerns.
“I have always referred to Peter Obi. When he lost [the] election; we all know the promise he held when the elections were being conducted,” he said, via reporting by
“Almost everybody who is anything in Nigeria (threw their) support [for him]. But when the results came out otherwise, he didn’t call his supporters to the street to wreak havoc. He took the legal path and by that way, he was able to save his country from chaos.
“So we will encourage all of our politicians to learn from that example. Leadership is about self-restraint, and leadership is about selflessness.
“So we expect that our politicians will demonstrate this. The process has been peaceful so far so let us continue to be peaceful and promote the interest of our country.”
The election is considered a straight contest between Julius Bio, incumbent President and candidate of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), and Samura Kamara of the All Peoples Congress (APC).
Other candidates include:
- Mohamed Chernoh (National Democratic Alliance)
- Coker Prince (People’s Democratic Party)
- Jonjo Mohamed (Citizens Democratic Party)
- Kabuta Henry (United National Peoples Party)
- Kakay Iye (Alliance Democratic Party)
- Kamara Musa (Peace and Liberation Party)
- Margai Francis (People’s Movement For Democratic Change)
- Saccoh Dougakoro (Revolutionary United Front Party)
- Sandy Patrick (National Unity and Reconciliation Party)
- Sowa-Turay Mohamed (United Democratic Movement)
- Williams Victor (Republic National Independent Party)
Voters are also electing Members of Parliament and local Councillors in the fifth election since the end of Sierra Leone’s civil war 21 years ago.
