By Mohamed Kakay

All eyes were focused on arliament on Wednesday July 13, 2023, not because of the historical moment I presume, but to see how the house will be conducted without the main opposition APC party. As expected, parliament went on peacefully without any interruptions.

However, despite the most contentious topic of the day was the presence of one man, only one man, Hon. Mohamed Bangura from the main opposition APC party.

Hon. Mohamed Bangura defied his APC party’s decision to boycott taking part in all areas in government, especially in Parliament, Mayor, Council Chairpersons and Councillors.

But Hon. Mohamed Bangura actions of attending parliament and taking the oath of office has led to his party expelling him for what they called; Anti-Party activity.

After that expulsion, the next step to be taken by the party is to officially communicate that decision to the Speaker of Parliament who would communicate that decision to Hon. Mohamed Bangura.

Note that for someone to be a member of parliament; you must be a member of a political party or an independent candidate.

Now that the APC party has expelled Hon. Mohamed Bangura from their party and communicate it to the Speaker of Parliament, it’s now left with the Speaker to act upon it.

In 1996, some members of Parliament from the UNPP, Dr. John Kafera Smart’s party, decided to take up appointments in the SLPP Tejan Kabba led government but Karefa wasn’t in support of the decision of his MPs.

He therefore decided to expel them from his party and duly informed the Speaker about that. Interestingly, the Speaker did nothing about that and allowed the MPs to continue sitting in parliament.

2010, PMDC expel Legacy Sankoh and C4C Party expelled Hon. Emmerson Lamina and requested to leave parliament. The Supreme Court then verdict allows Legacy Sankoh to remain in Parliament until end of his tenure.

There is precedent by law by the Supreme Court.

In an interview with the national broadcaster following his swearing-in ceremony, Bangura said taking the oath of office is his constitutional right and he has committed no wrongdoing. In response to a question about the potential consequences of defying the party, he confidently replied, “I am ready for anything.”

The argument here is, will the newly Speaker, Dr. Abass Bundu remove Hon. Mohamed Bangura from parliament; It’s a big , NO!