Freetown, Sierra Leone – (African Boulevard News) – Tension is rising in Sierra Leone as hundreds of supporters of the country’s opposition party, the All People’s Congress (APC), take to the streets to protest against the National Electoral Commission (NEC). The protesters call for the immediate resignation of the electoral body’s Chief, Mohamed Konneh, over allegations of electoral misconduct.
The demonstration, which took place on Monday, saw supporters of the APC brandishing placards with inscriptions such as “NEC is corrupt” and “We want a free and fair election.” The protestors expressed their displeasure with the electoral commission over what they described as the failure to conduct a credible voter registration process ahead of the upcoming elections.
According to a spokesperson for the party, the NEC has deliberately excluded APC strongholds from the voter registration exercise, thereby disenfranchising thousands of its supporters. The spokesperson further alleged that the electoral commission has been aiding the ruling party in rigging the elections.
“The NEC is working hand in glove with the ruling party to rig the upcoming elections. We demand that the Chief Electoral Commissioner, Mohamed Konneh, steps down immediately to pave the way for free and fair elections,” the party spokesperson said.
The National Electoral Commission has since denied the allegations, insisting that it has been doing its best to ensure a credible electoral process. In a statement released on Monday, the Commission urged political parties and stakeholders to refrain from making unverified allegations that could undermine the electoral process.
“NEC wishes to state that it has been conducting its affairs transparently and professionally, and will continue to do so. We urge all political parties and stakeholders to desist from making statements that could cause tension and incite violence,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, the police have deployed officers to quell the protest, which has caused significant disruption in the capital city, Freetown. The situation remains tense as opposition supporters vow to continue their protests until their demands are met.
The protests come just months before Sierra Leone is set to hold its presidential elections, scheduled for November 2023. The opposition party, APC, hopes to unseat the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), which has been in power since 2018.
