Over High Nomination Fees…APPWA Lashes NEC
The All Political Party Women Association (APPWA) has lambasted the nomination fees slammed by the National Electoral Commission (NEC) as unreasonable and promised to boycott the electioneering process in the 2012 November polls if not negotiated.
Talking on this issue Public Relations Officer, Husainatu Jalloh said her association finds the new fees exorbitant and stifling to the ordinary man. She explained that her organization is one that seeks the interest of women participation in the nation’s building, noting that the new nomination fees do not toe the tenets of democratic principle.
She maintained by saying such action by the National Electoral Commission (NEC) is a recipe for chaos in the November 2012 polls. In her words she said this fee attempts to rob the universal adult suffrage right of the ordinary man in taking an active part in the 2012 democratic process.
The PRO said, the NEC should revisit their decision as it appearesin the eyes of many ordinary Sierra Leoneans, especially the women, as a ploy to smear President Ernest Koroma’s promise of a 30% quota for women participants in national politics.
Augusta James Tema, vice president of APPWA, said her association is currently putting a concerted effort in rallying around female honorable members of parliament to annul or vote against any statutory agreement on NEC’s current nomination fees on political aspirants.
She said such levies will affect the ordinary woman who may be favored by her people to represent them, especially those in the provincial areas; she noted further that the high increment will only favor the ‘moneyocrat,’ those who have been able to amass wealth in having greater stakes in dictating the politics of the country.
Secretary General of APPWA, Mrs. Karimu lent her voice to the issue noting further that her association is not prepared to accept such high fees, saying it is considered as bottle-necking female aspirants in the country.
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