By Ragan M Conteh

The former Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Sengepoh Solomon Thomas and Hon Ibrahim Tawa Conteh have both won the position of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.

They both won by simple majority and there was 128 total votes cast for Sengepoh Solomon Thomas while the opposition contestant, Hon. Daniel Brima Koroma from Koinadugu district step down on the race after three consecutive times without two thirds majority.

During the final votes there were (6)  absentees and one void vote cast all totaling 145.

The APC as an opposition by refusing the ruling SLPP to easily win the speakership elections by two-third majority is a testament, they said, speaks of a clear indication that there is unity within the opposition party.

Initially, the elections were conducted thrice and after the third rounds, the candidate of the opposition party Hon. Daniel Brima Koroma declined the race for the title.

After intense fourth rounds of the elections, the former Hon. Sengepoh Solomon Thomas emerged as the winner thus enjoying the votes from the opposition and the ruling bench.

Moreover, immediately after the declaration of Sengepoh Solomon Thomas as the Speaker of the House, his resignation letters for both the positions as MP and Deputy Speaker of the House were read by the Director General of Sixth Parliament.

Addressing the MPs, the Leader of Government Business Hon. Sahr Matthew Nyuma disclosed that democracy is at the highest peak in Sierra Leone and there is a unity in the Sixth Parliament.

He further said that the election serves as a clarion call for the respect of democracy and the rule of law.

The Leader of the opposition party Hon. Abdul Kargbo said they had shown a level of understanding between both parties, adding that though the Fifth Parliament has been labelled for bad reasons and assured that the Sixth Parliament will not be part of such accusation.

Hon. Kargbo affirmed that they had accepted the resignation letters for Hon Thomas as the Deputy Speaker in good faith and commended the former Deputy Speaker for following the due processes of the law.

He said his resignation letter was addressed to the House of Parliament which is spelled out by the law.