After Christiana Thorpe who next?
The Chief Electoral Commissioner, Madam Christiana Thorpe, was nominated by late Tejan Kabbah, former President of the Republic. After five years of her tenure of office, she was re-elected by President Ernest Bai Koroma for the same position, which automatically took her to the 2012 Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Council Elections dubbed 4 for 4.
The National Electoral Commission (NEC) led by Christiana Thorpe, presented pre-conceived plans to the political parties in spite of protests by the latter plans more often than not had no rhyme or reason guaranteeing free fair, credible and violent free elections. No serious consideration was given to the enormity of the sacred task of conducting Presidential, Parliamentary Local Council Elections in 2012, all at the same time throughout the country. This was an unprecedented process or event in the political annals of Sierra Leone with serious electioneering fraud.
Well now, Madam Christiana Thorpe is about to take her exit from the Commission as Chief Electoral Commissioner. Her leave to retirement started on the 16th June 2014 to the 16th August 2014 but it is yet unknown who is going to succeed Madam Thorpe.
Christiana Thorpe
However, Mr. Stephen Aiah Mattia is now in charge of the Commission. The Secretary to the President stated in his letter that while Christiana Thorpe is on leave to retirement, Mr. Stephen A. Mattia should be in Charge of the Commission until a new Chief Electoral Commission is appointed by His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone.
Stephen A. Mattia attended both primary and secondary schools in Kono. He proceeded to Fourah Bay College in the early 1980s, he worked hard and graduated with ‘A’ division in the Arts Faculty.
Mr. Mattia was recruited in the Commission as a civil servant on the 18th April, 1990. According to reliable sources, Mr. Mattia has a very good administrative record with both junior and senior ranks of the Commission; his human relationship is very cordial.
In 2010, Mr. Mattia succeeded the late Sylvanus Torto as Commissioner East after the latter’s resignation for Paramount Chieftaincy election in the Nimiyama Chiefdom. Mr. Mattia who has acted in various capacities started as Chief Executive of Operations in the Commission. He became Commissioner while he was on a consultancy programme in Pakistan.
Mattia was employed as civil servant and has served the Commission for over two decades. It is likely that because of Mattia’s meritorious service in the Commission, the President deemed it fit and appointed him in charge of the institution until a new Chief Electoral Commission is nominated in Consultation with registered Political Parties subject to the ratification of Parliament.
Although Mr. Mattia could be perceived as an unassuming character by appearance, he is highly disciplined and hardly compromises principles. If it pleases the His Excellency the President to nominate Mr. Mattia as Chief Electoral Commissioner for Sierra Leone then this Nation will have a very healthly, free, fair, credible and democratic Election in 2018.
What is required of the President is for him to have consultation with registered Political Parties as enshrined in the 1991 Constitution.
By: Felix D. Fofoh
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