By Ragan M Conteh

MPs of the All People’s Congress (APC) have axed out their comrade Hon Mohamed Bangura as they deny him the opportunity to represent the party in ECOWAS parliament.

Another paty member has filled Bangura’s vacancy.

The new man had been sworn in and approved instead to be at the ECOWAS National Assembly of 2024 parliament.

Among the many  representatives from both dominant parties selected are: Veronica Kadi Sesay from the SLPP, Hon. Emerson Lamina  SLPP,  Hon. Sheika Sama SLPP, Hon. Abdul Kargbo APC and Hon. Mabinty Forna APC respectively.

In his tweets, the Leader of opposition Hon Abdul Kargbo said, “I’ve just inaugurated at the 6th legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament. I pray that God direct me in this new responsibility.”

Some APC MPs said after the 2023 general elections, Hon Mohamed Bangura, in haste went ahead to humiliate his party as he refused a boycott appeal by the party to refusing to attend parliament due to elections protests on alleged rigging.

The MP was also accused of having the habit of always defying his party’s stance.

The opposition had described Mr Bangura’s conducts as largely anti-party activities which were bent on undermining the party.

2023 election in Sierra Leone was described by the international community as largely marred by violence against the opposition and it condemned official elections data released by the electoral commission as lacking authenticity and transparency.

The Opposition APC took a stance not to participate in any governance levels including Parliament and local councils across the country.

The party had warned all its representatives not to participate in governance activities but Hon Mohamed Bangura defiantly disagreed with his party and went in parliament on his sole accord.

Hon Bangura was later joined by another APC’s party member Alfred Johnson from the Western Area Urban in parliament.

But after negotiations and the Communiqué organized by AU ECOWAS,  opposition MPs agreed and decided to go to parliament in agreement to the communiqué resolutions.

The communiqué recommended for three -month backlog be paid to opposition MPs but government is still backpedalling on this promise as APC MPs are yet to be paid their backlog.