By Ragan M Conteh
The All People’s Congress (APC) party leaders in Parliament have disclosed that President Julius Maada Bio did not consult their political party leaders prior to the appointment of the Electoral Commissioner of Southern Region, Edmond Sylvester Alpha as stipulated by the Constitution of Sierra Leone.
According to the APC party leaders in parliament, they said their party were never consulted neither do they receive any letter from the president on the appointment of the said Commissioner.
The leaders made the disclosure on Thursday 9th May 2024 at Committee room one in Parliament, during the vetting of the Southern Region Electoral Commissioner who was nominated by President Bio.
“The last time, the Secretary to the President confirmed that political parties were not consulted in tandem with the law, but today Edmond Sylvester Alpha is here again, I pity Mr. Alpha because he doesn’t deserve this, and unfortunately, the APC party was never consulted,” they said.
“We want this sitting to continue but allowing it to proceed will be a violation of section 32 (3) of the Constitution; yes, other political parties have been consulted but based on the mandate of the electorate it is only APC and SLPP who are to decide.”
“Does it bother you that the APC has not made its position? It should bother us in the spirit of parliamentary unionism,” the deputy leader of opposition Hon. Daniel Koroma, said.
The Deputy Leader of Opposition II, Hon Aaron Koroma, has also raised serious concerns over the appointment of ECSL Commissioner South.
He said they did not intend to stall the vetting process but wanted a due process of the law to be adhered to.
The APC Chief Whip, Hon. AKK, however, requested for a minority report on the Committee on Appointment and Public Service on the re-appointment of Mr Edmond Alpha.
The House Leader Hon. Mathew S Nyuma raises section 32(3) as reason for the deferred hearing of Edmond Alpha on how much consultation was clarified for which seven political parties had sent in their attestation of compliance.
“Section 32.3 has not been complied with on the appointment of Edmond Alpha from the side of the APC party, “, Hon Aaron Aruna Koroma Deputy Opposition Leader 2 raises the red flag, “Hon. Nyuma, I have a different proof, we will do the needful when we get to the Chamber,” he said.
“I have received over eight letters from political parties confirming that the consultation was done by the president.”
The Deputy Speaker Hon . Ibrahim Tawa Conteh offered to check if State House had consulted the APC party on the matter of consultation.