Samuel Kallon 
By Ragan M. Conteh
The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) has concluded one of its unforgettable elections at the Bintumani Hotel, in the capital Freetown.
The Commissioner announced that there were 14 invalid votes while the voter turnout was 94.48%.
The elections saw the Secretary General of the SLAJ, Alhaji Manika Kamara emereged victorious with a total votes of 308 while Mustapha Sesay pulled a total votes of 153 votes.
Announcing the results, the electoral Commissioner, Zainab Joque said, in exercise of the powers conferred upon it by Article 14(6) of the 2024 Reviewed SLAJ Constitution, the SLAJ Electoral Commission successfully conducted the national and regional elections of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at the Bintumani Hotel, Aberdeen, Freetown.
According to the Commissioner, the elections were generally peaceful and orderly and the Commission would like to thank the entire membership of SLAJ for their cooperation and general comportment during the electioneering period.
She said the Commission had a Final Voter Register (Amended) of 489 eligible members who were eligible to vote.
However, she stated that a total number of Four Hundred and Sixty-Two (462) members voted in the election.
She revealed that the Commission received 143 proxy votes for various positions.
“The National President-462 votes were cast in the election of which there were 143 Proxy votes and 318 in person votes (Valid votes 461 – Invalid votes -14)” she said.
She said, for the Secretary General – 460 votes were cast in the election of which there were 143 Proxy votes and 315 in person votes (Valid votes 458 – Invalid votes -2).
She went on that for the Assistant Secretary General -460 votes were cast in the election of which there were 141 Proxy votes and 315 in person votes (Valid votes 456-Invalid votes -4).
Public Affairs Secretary – 460 votes were cast in the election of which there were 143 Proxy votes and 314 in person votes (Valid votes 457 -Invalid votes -3) and for the Organising Secretary – 456 votes were cast in the election of which there were 142 Proxy votes and 314 in person votes (Valid votes -456- Invalid vote-4).
On the Eastern Region Chairman – 72 votes were cast in the election of which there were 30 Proxy votes and 42 in person votes (Valid votes -72) and for the Public Affairs Secretary – 72 votes were cast in the election of which there were 30 Proxy votes and 42 in person votes (Valid votes -72)
She revealed that during the nomination period for the 2025 election, a total of 38 SLAJ members were nominated for various positions across the country.
She said of these nominees 7 were women and 31 were men. The nominations were distributed as follows: 13 for National positions, 10 for the Eastern region, 7 for the Northern region, and 8 for the Southern region.
