By Gibao Brima

The protracted legal battle that held back Sierra Leone Motor Driver’s And General Transport Workers’ Union election to have a new president is said to have ended with the court giving the green light to go ahead with the process not later than 30th June, 2025.

Following this court order, the Union executive have slated June 18th for the much anticipated election.

The issue of who is a qualified, registered and full paid up member of the Union to contest or vote has been the bone of contention. However, that issue is now said to be satisfactorily resolved with the membership list nationwide being diagnosed and accepted and all is now set for June 18th.

In a snap interview with our reporter, some members insisted that the Union is bigger than anyone of them and that all they want is a free, fair and transparent election to avoid another court action. They said they’re not afraid of Mr Abu White’s membership issue, but rather looking for a qualified member so that they will have a credible election devoid of violence, now that they said they have a clean membership voters’ list and are ready to go to polls.

Meanwhile, the incumbent President Alpha Amadu Bah told our reporter that in spite of all the odds, he is going to ensure a free, fair and transparent transition.

He claimed that his critics who do not mean well for the Union have been getting it wrong about his leadership, but despite their criticism, believes he made impressive development strides during his tenure. He stressed on having credible election so that whoever succeeds him will continue with the development from where he left it.

To prove his critics wrong that he did well during his presidency Mr. Bah said he is still loved, which is why he received a rosy welcome by the Union membership at New London in Bo over the weekend which he said has not happened for over many years.

Mr Bah said as a president, since the leadership struggle started until during that visit, he has never made a stopover at New London in Bo but noted that the event underscores solidarity among the members and that peace is gradually returning to the Union ahead of the  forthcoming election.