Sierra Leone: Civil Society Writes NEC
By Stephen V. Lansana
Leaders of six civil society organizations have written a letter to the Chief Electoral Commissioner, N’fa Ali Conteh, enquiring whether a date has been slated for the next general elections, as the tenure of office of those in government draws to its end.
The civil society organizations include the Institute of Governance Reform, Centre for Accountability and the Rule of Law, Network Movement for Justice and Development, Society for Democratic Initiatives, Campaign for Good Governance, and Centre for Coordination of Youth Activities.
The civil society organizations in a letter written on Tuesday, January 16, reminded NEC that President Ernest Bai Koroma was sworn into office for his second and final term on Friday, November 23, 2012. “We therefore expect the five-year term of office to expire on Thursday 23rd November 2017, or no later than February 2018,” they said.
“We are seeking clarification from your office because of strong rumours circulating in the public that the next general election will not be held on schedule. We believe that these rumours are unfounded and we will be glad to have your valued clarification to ease the growing anxiety among the public,” they enquired.
“Sir, for democracies as young as ours, observance of tenure of office provides a good impetus for consolidation. It is not surprising therefore that your predecessors consistently announced dates for general elections about a year ahead of the polls,” they said.
They cited that the former Chief Electoral Commissioner and Chairperson of NEC, Dr. Christiana Thorpe, on November 12, 2011 declared November 17, 2012 as the day for the conduct of elections for the Office of the President.
“Assuming February 17, 2018 is government’s preferred date for general elections, we only have about four weeks timeframe to notify public officials wishing to run for elective office, who are required by law to resign their jobs a year before the polls,” they stated.
They said firm knowledge regarding the date for the next presidential election will help the public at large, especially citizens who want to run for office, political parties and all agencies engaged in building democracy in Sierra Leone to plan their activities.
They said given the Chief Commissioner’s mandate as Returning Officer for the election of President and Members of Parliament of Sierra Leone, “we believe you are uniquely placed to tell us a date for the conduct of general election. Section 32 subsection 11 of our constitution significantly guarantees the independence of your electoral commission in discharge of its duties”.
Earlier, the National Election Watch (NEW) called on the National Electoral Commission (NEC) to release the specific date for the next Presidential and Parliamentary Elections that are scheduled for 2018.
NEW said the date for the elections has implications for aspirants in public office, noting that by law for anyone to contest the election as member of parliament, such a person if paid from the consolidated fund, must resign his/her employment twelve (12) months before election day.
NEW noted that “The undue delay in pronouncing the actual election date does not create a level playing field in the electoral arena, since the date is set by the Chief Electoral Commissioner in consultation with the president.”
NEW urged that this important phase is completed and the date declared without further delay.