By Ragan M. Conteh

Reports from the provincial districts have intimated this medium that members of the All People’s Congress (APC) are faced with serious challenges during the peace tour conducted by the party’s executive.

The challenges, sources are as a result of the avoidance by the executive to discuss talks about the electoral justice called by Dr Samura Kamara.

Abdul Sesay who’s a staunch supporter of the APC, told this medium that the meeting in Magburaka, Tonkolili District, ended in a turmoil as grassroots supporters ended up deserted the meeting because of what they say a sellout was done by the national executive.

Sesay said they are expecting the national Chairman and the executive to explain to them about the June 2023 elections in Sierra Leone.

Abdul Sesay says it will serve as deterrent to the party if the 2023 elections were not accounted for. He said the executive is paving the way for another political defections by 2028.

“Why are we abandoning the electoral justice? Are we setting a precedent that will affect generations yet unborn. This will deepen further division in the country, ” he said.

Many directly accused the national executive of playing connivance with the ruling government thereby derailing democracy.

Salamatu Kargbo of Magburaka told this medium that, an effective electoral justice system is a key element of a free, fair and genuine democratic process.

She said without a system to mitigate and manage inequality or perceptions on inequalities, even the best management of an electoral process may lead to mistrust questioning the legitimacy of the elected government.

She highlighted ways on how to prevent electoral disputes from happening, drawing  examples of countries like Afghanistan, Argentina, the United Kingdom and the United States.

It will assist any country on the design and implementation of an electoral justice system that best suits their situation, he advised.

The party supporters are reportedly not happy with the executive in all the districts they’d visited for the peace tour.

It could be recalled that, in recent months, Sierra Leone has grappled with a worrisome challenge threatening its democratic integrity: allegations of election irregularities and a troubling lack of transparency in result tabulation.

These claims have reverberated within the nation and have raised serious concerns among international election observers, including the United Kingdom and the United States.

The ensuing doubts have cast a shadow of uncertainty over the legitimacy of the current regime in governance, according to political analysts.

Amidst this pressing issue, the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) has emerged as a key player by vociferously advocating for a rerun of the multi-tier elections while passionately urging resistance against the Bio led government which they perceive illegitimate to run the state.

The APC says it  democratic responsibility is to ensure that every citizen’s vote during 2023 June election, is accorded the utmost value and be counted, for a fairness and transparency.