By Ragan M Conteh

MPs of the All People’s Congress (APC) party have stated during the vetting out of Southern Region Electoral Commissioner, Edmond Sylvester Alpha, that the President never did a  consultation on his appointment as stipulated by the Constitution.

Both the Acting Leader, Hon. Daniel Brima Koroma and Chief Whip Abdul Karim Kamara of the Opposition All People’s Congress (APC), raised serious concerns regarding the re-apportionment of Edmond Sylvester Alpha.

According to Abdul Karim Kamara, President Bio re-appointment of the proposed Commissioner for South region was done without consulting the leadership of the APC party.

The two leaders had raised these concerns on Wednesday 9th May 2024 during a committee vetting of the Presidential nominees at the Committee Room 1 in the House of Parliament.

The Committee was chaired by the Deputy Leader of Government Business, Hon Bashiru Silikie, who represented the Bo district.

The Acting Leader of Opposition in Parliament,  Hon. Daniel Koroma, in a closed door meeting held with Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Silikie, expressed same concerns and  saying that political parties must be consulted before the approval of the Commissioners.

The Acting Leader made it clear that as an opposition party in the Sixth Parliament, they wanted unionism and that they are not in the Sixth Parliament ‘to fight.’

However, Hon. Koroma confirmed that the fact of the matter is that the opposition was not consulted about the re-apportionment of National Electoral Commissioner for Southern Region, Edmond Sylvester Alpha.

He said appointment should be done in accordance with section 32 (3) of the Constitution of Sierra Leone.

He said if the Committee on Appointment interviewed the proposed Commissioner, it is clear that they are violating the Constitution of Sierra Leone.

Responding to this, the Leader of Government Business Hon. Sahr Mathew Nyuma asserted that they had received (8) eight letters from different political parties registered with the Political Party Regulations Commission (PPRC) confirming their consultations.

He said whether or not the opposition party was consulted it cannot hinder the interview process of the nominated Commissioner.

The Deputy Leader of Government Business Hon. Bashiru Silikie assured that president Bio cannot do such an appointment without consulting the opposition party.

It could be recalled that President Bio had re-appointed Edmond Sylvester Alpha as Electoral Commissioner for Southern region on 20th March, 2024.

After arguments and counter arguments, the leaders agreed with the opposition party on a specific clause that an appointment should be made in conformity with section 32 (2) of the Constitution of Sierra Leone. But, they however dis-link to comment on the action of the President not to have consulted the opposition party while invoking the said clause above.

The leaders urged the Committee’s clerk to take record of the concerns being raised by the opposition party.

However, the Commissioner of Eastern region was vetted and will be possibly approved in the next sitting.