SLPP Discredits 2018 Elections in Sierra Leone
The Very Election that brought the Party to Power!
Thanks to the High Court in getting us know the fact of charges against the APC MPs. At least we now know that SLPP is calling for another election in most constituencies in the capital. Three of the four petitions read on Monday, 15th April, 2019, are on similar charges of Elections Fraud, voting Irregularities and intimidation. These petitions include those against Hon. Sheriff Carew, Hon. Abubakarr Sillah and Hon. Chernor Ramadan Maju Bah.
The SLPP petitioners are demanding that the High Court of Sierra Leone should declare null and void of most seats they are challenging on the basis of alleged electoral fraud, irregularities and intimidations.
They say Section 147 of the Public Elections Act of No 4 of 2012 says that if issues raised in the petition are reasonably proved in court, then the elections of several MPs would be declared null and void.
In addition, Section 146(4) of the Public Elections Act of 2012 says “If the election is declared void, another election shall be held.
This means that contrary to the rumour that the APC will lose seats to the SLPP, the High Court, if it ever finds reasonable evidence in line with Section 147 of the Public Elections Act, can only call for another election. This is because; no candidate can ever benefit from a NULL AND VOID ELECTION.
Another issue raised today in court is the standard of proof to use in the electoral fraud matter. The SLPP petitioner lawyers claimed that they want a civil standard of proof which is “a balance of probabilities”, but the defendants’ lawyers claimed that “fraud, intimidation and irregularities” are criminal charges which means that the petitioners must prove their case “behold all reasonable doubt”. The defense team contended the evidence submitted by the petitioners as all being hearsay.
However, honestly, if SLPP is claiming of fraud and irregularities on the very election that brought them to power, then one is left wondering what their legal argument is.
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