The leadership of the Sierra Leone
Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) is struggling to save its face after been found
guilty [in the court of the European Elections Observation Mission in Sierra Leone
(EUOM)] of favouring the ruling party in the run-up to the November 17
elections.
Counting is still ongoing, amid widespread
public anxiety.
But despite looming tension with threats
by the main opposition Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) to reject the outcome of
Saturday`s vote, international observers were unanimous in their approval of
the day`s activities.
However, as experts would say, election
is a process; it is more than just the totality of activities of the voting
day.
President Ernest Bai Koroma`s All
Peoples Congress (APC) party maybe cruising towards a sweet victory, based on
provision results, but it seems its success did not come without undue
advantage.
“An unequal playing field was evident
throughout the campaign period,” reads the preliminary statement of the EU Elections
Observation Mission, which is headed by Britain`s Labour politician and member
of the European Parliament, Richard Hewitt.
The closely fought elections had nine
presidential candidates.
But from the beginning it had been clear
that it was a two horse race between President Koroma and former head of state
Brigadier General (rtd) Julius Maada Bio of the SLPP.
“Although the ruling APC and the main
opposition SLPP dominated the campaign, APC clearly benefitted from the
advantages of incumbency by making use of state resources, also enjoyed more
media coverage and clearly had more financial resources for campaigning,” the EU
observer mission interim statement added.
But the shrewd SLBC should be given a
tap on the back for its timely response. However, someone may want to tell the honourable Gbanabom Hallowell, SLBC Director General, that next time he should be more
shrewd when choosing the interviewee for a career British (Labour) MP.
Monday was a busy day at the Bintumani Hotel
Conference Room 1, at the tourism center of Aberdeen, West end of Freetown, as international
elections observation missions took turn to give their initial assessment of
the electoral process.
The Carter Center, the Commonwealth and
the African Union all said last Saturday`s vote generally met international
standard – free, fair and credible.
Iron lady, Dr Christian Thorpe, was
certainly the winner of the day.
But, as it always is the case, the
observers cited a host of anomalies her predecessor will have to take note of.
Some of these concerns appear to give
credence to some of the claims currently being championed by the SLPP.
Curiously, even though no one, not even
Christiana Thorpe, can tell who has won, the SLPP is threatening not to accept
the final outcome of the polls if its concerns are not redressed immediately.
You wouldn’t expect a party which is
hopeful to win an election to make such comment, would you?
Maybe provisional results being aired by
the IRN [Independent Radio Network] serves as warning to the Green Party.
Also, you would expect the incumbent in
such circumstances to celebrate. But no, the APC is proving good at a game it
seems to have perfected within the last over three decades of Sierra Leone`s
independence.
“We are neither claiming nor clamouring
for victory. We are waiting for NEC to make their pronouncement,” APC`s
Secretary General, Victor Foh, was quoted by SLBC last night.
While it awaits the NEC`s official endorsement,
as it were, the APC may also have to contemplate a response to the EU`s
position that they had more resources than their opponents.
There is also the issue of money changing
hands, in other words bribery, involving government officials, who were also
accused of exerting undue pressure on certain Paramount Chief (s) apparently to
support the incumbent.
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