By Ragan M. Conteh
The Opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party candidate who also doubles as the Leader of Opposition in Parliament has expressed his thanks to all those who supported him to contest for the Speakership position in the latest’s parliament election.
He said the Speaker’s elections demonstrated the democratic values in Sierra Leone.
The election followed the resignation of Hon. Dr. Abass Bundu as Speaker of Parliament effective 30 April 2024.
And the Parliament of Sierra Leone, on Thursday 02 May 2024, duly elected Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas as the new Speaker of the Sixth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone.
This is in pursuant to Section 79 subsection (2) of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone (Act No. 6 of 1991) as amended in 2013.
After three successive rounds of voting without securing a two-third to elect the Speaker of Parliament, the House went for fourth ballot, giving a simple majority and overwhelmingly voted for the Rt. Hon. Solomon Thomas.
Segepoh was duly elected as Speaker of the Sierra Leone Parliament, by obtaining 128 (ayes), 10 (nays) or against, 1 void and 6 abstained from voting.
After a successful conduct of the election, on behalf of the Acting Clerk of Parliament, by the Director of Legislative Services, Momodu Lamin Deen Rogers announced that the Rt. Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas had been won as Speaker of Parliament.
During the election, after a third round of voting, the opposition candidate for the position of Speaker, Hon. Daniel Brima Koroma withdrew his candidature on the grounds of adhering to the provisions of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone, on upholding the principles of democracy, peace and national cohesion.
Just after the election of the Speaker, two letters of resignation as Members of Parliament were tendered in the well.
The letter was read by the Director General of Parliament, Mrs. Finda Findosia Fraser who declared vacancies for the position of Deputy Speaker and a Member of Parliament for Bonthe District to replace Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas, given the fact that when a sitting Member of Parliament is elected Speaker, he would lose his seat in Parliament following provisions of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone.
Prior to the electoral process, the Opposition Leader, Hon. Abdul Kargbo cited Section 159 subsection 1 of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone, which deals with appointments by the President and resignations.
And he said the former Speaker was obliged to send his resignation letter to Parliament than to send it to the President of Sierra Leone.
Responding to statements made by the Opposition Leader, the Leader of Government Business, Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma countered by advancing Section 73 (1) given the composition of Parliament including the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone.
He also said the former Speaker copied Parliament in his resignation letter and the vacancy had occurred for the position of Speaker and must be filled in respect of Section 79 (5) of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone.
After a heated debate, in light of constitutional provisions, both Leaders agreed to proceed with the election of the Speaker which was immediately followed by a roll call by the Clerks-At-the-Table.
Following the roll call, it was discovered that two Members of Parliament were absent, (one from the SLPP and one from the APC) and two vacant seats for two Paramount Chief Members of Parliament for Pujehun and Kenema districts respectively.
Earlier, the Leader of Government Business Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma nominated Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas as candidate to contest for the position of the Speaker and described him as a political heavyweight, legal luminary, highly religious and a philanthropist.
Former Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hon. Mohamed Sidie Tunis was second in motion for the nomination of Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas to contest for the Speakership position
On the Opposition side, the Leader of Opposition, Hon. Abdul Kargbo nominated Hon. Daniel Koroma as candidate for the position of Speaker with specific description that he had discovered water in the desert in the person of Hon. Daniel Brima Koroma. He referred to his candidate as someone with satisfactory mind and one that knows what the MPs want and ready to give what they want. “He is God fearing, corrupt free and one with good desire” he said.
Seconding the nomination of the Opposition candidate, the Deputy Whip of Opposition, Hon. Catherine Zainab Tarawally supported Hon. Daniel Koroma for the position of the Speaker of Parliament.
After the first ballot, the Ayes got 93 votes in favour of the candidacy of Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas as Speaker and the Opposition got 52 Nays or voted against . Subsequently in the second rounds of voting the Ruling SLPP candidate got 96 Ayes and the Opposition or against received 49 Nays and finally in the third rounds Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas got 95 as Aye, whilst the Nay or against was 50
In another development, the Parliament of Sierra Leone, on Thursday 02 May 2024 elected Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh as Deputy Speaker of Parliament, pursuant to Section 80 subsections 2 and 3 of the Constitution of Sierra Leone as amended in 2013 and Standing Order 9 paragraphs 2 and 3 of the rules of procedure in Parliament.
Also, in a related development, after a successful election for the position of Deputy Speaker, the Speaker of Parliament, the Rt. Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas announced that Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh scored 94 Ayes, 47 Nays, 2 abstained and zero void.
According to the Speaker of Parliament as prescribed in Section 80 in the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone, Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh was duly elected as Deputy Speaker of Parliament by simple majority.
Earlier on the election of the Deputy Speaker, the Deputy Leader 2 of Government Business, Hon. Saa Emerson Lamina nominated Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh as candidate for the ruling SLPP. Hon. Emerson Lamina recognized Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh for effectiveness and performance as a seasoned Member of Parliament.
His nomination was seconded and endorsed by the Majority Whip, Hon. Dickson Rogers, in which he described him as a humble and respectful personality.
On the part of the Opposition, the Opposition Whip, Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara nominated Hon. Haja Miatta Amara on gender grounds.
He told Parliament that the candidate is a woman of humility, soft spoken with other positive character.
Seconding the motion on the nomination of the Opposition candidate, Hon. Dr. Umpha G. Koroma described Hon. Miatta Amara as a unique character for the position of Deputy Speaker.
The election for the position of Deputy Speaker was overwhelmingly won by Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh.