As Campaign Starts Tomorrow… 8 Political Parties Merge
Eight political parties have merged to express resentment over the delay in justice in the High Court matter that led to the slamming of an interim injunction restraining the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) flagbearer and the running mate from National Electoral Commission (NEC) nominations which deadline has already expired. Below is a press release signed by the various political parties.
Concerned Political Parties C/o National Democratic Institute (NDI) 37, Wellington Street, Freetown, Sierra Leone, West AfricaPRESS RELEASE
We the undersigned Political Parties are concerned with the ongoing action in the High Court of Sierra Leone between Mohamed Pateh Bah- plaintiff and Secretary General of the NDA and others Defendant – presided over by Justice Abdulai Charm in which the Plaintiff is challenging his expulsion from the NDA and seeking an injunction preventing the NDA from nominating their Presidential flag and Running mate for the forthcoming November polls.
We are not averse to the court action, but we remain concern with the granting of an injunction, albeit interim, preventing the Party from nomination its Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates. This matter, we believe, has been adjourned on at least three occasions, the last being on Wednesday 10th instance at which the court adjourned the matter to the 15th instance; a day after the official closure of nomination of political parties by NEC.
Considering that, the nomination of Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates is a right inherent in the National Constitution, we believe the action of Hon. Mr. Justice Abdulai Charm to be an infringement of the constitutional right given to every registered political party in Sierra Leone, not excepting the NDA, which conduct on the part of the learned Judge is not only reprehensible but an attempt to disenfranchise members and would be voters of the NDA.
As concerned Political Parties believing in the rule of law without exception, we are of the view that such conduct may not be unconnected with interference by outside force with the aid of the Judiciary.
We are reinforced in the views expressed above based on the incontrovertible fact that the learned Judge is a member of the All People Congress Party (APC) under which he contested in 2002 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections and has since not resigned from the APC (see attached gazette Vol. CXXXIII of Wednesday 10th April, 2002 No. 18 at page 253 and 254 under the rubric Govt. Notice No. 138 – Name of Political Party; All People’s Congress (APC) – Name of candidate No. 4 Mr. Abdulai Hamid Charm)
As concerned Political Parties, we are resolved to ensuring a peaceful, fair and democratic elections, the result of which should be accepted municipally as well as internationally and in that vein we shall continue to act in the best interest of the citizenry of Sierra Leone and will stand firm against any attempt to stifle the constitutional right of individuals, institutions and or Political Parties.
We entreat every law abiding citizen of Sierra Leone to join us in preserving our hard earned peace and democracy which we are prepared to guard jealously.
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