No Chieftaincy Election In Port Loko Today
The High Court of Sierra Leone has declared an interim injunction on the Paramount Chieftaincy election in Maforki Chiefdom, Port Loko District scheduled for 4th December, 2013 until the hearing and determination of the application.
The matter comes up again on 6th December, 2013.
The Order of Honourable Justice A. H. Charm came on 29th November, 2013, upon hearing the applications of C. F. Margai Esq., defense counsel in the matter between the eight Ruling Houses in Maforki Chiefdom and the Provincial Secretary North, the National Electoral Commission, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development and the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice.
The High Court had earlier slammed an injunction on the declaration ceremony for the Paramount Chieftaincy election in that Chiefdom slated for November, 2013.
The Court, presided over by Justice Sam Margai, earlier ordered for the inclusion of the five sections to participate in the election.
The five sections are Magbankitha; Path Pollon; Thawuya; Mamanso and Rofeinka excluded by the then Provincial Secretary, North, the late Robert Dumbuya from contesting in the Paramount Chieftaincy elections.
The interim injunction came as a result of a complaint filed in by the five sections initially excluded from the Chiefdom Councilors’ list.
The court also nullified the declaration conducted on 13th November, 2013 as well as the disqualification of the eight applicants from contesting the Paramount Chieftaincy election on the grounds that the exercise was flawed in assuming that the chiefdom is an amalgamated chiefdom contrary to Order Six (6) of Justice Sam Margai’s judgment.
It was further stated that the reliance on Section 6 (2) of the Chieftaincy Act No. 10 of 2009 to disqualify the eight applicants from contesting the Maforki Paramount Chieftaincy election was an abuse of the process and contrary to the rules of Natural Justice.
According to the court Order, the declaration of rights exercise respecting the pending election be re-run and a date be fixed for the carrying out of the said exercise after which the respondents are to certify to the court that the above orders have been complied with for a date to be fixed by the court for the conduct of the said election.
The people of Maforki Chiefdom had earlier accused Government functionaries, including Ministers, of meddling into the Maforki Paramount Chieftaincy election thereby supporting the Adikalis (Santigies) to become Paramount Chief without taking into consideration the High Court ruling in Makeni by Hon. Justice Sam Margai.
A resident in Port Loko requested for the amalgamation treaty to avoid the misunderstanding among Ruling Houses in the Chiefdom.
Some indigenes and well wishers of the Chiefdom expressed dissatisfaction over the long delay of the matter thereby depriving them for the past seven to eight years without an elected Paramount Chief and admonished Government and stakeholders to put resolve the issue as chieftaincy elections are entirely a customs and traditions issue.
By Kamal M Barie in Kenema
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