By- Aruna Rashed Toma Bangura

The Supreme Court has on past Friday 27th January, 2023 ruled against the All People’s Congress party in the constitutional interpretation matter on the Presidential directive to the Electoral Commissioner to conduct the forthcoming multitier election using the District Block System or Proportional Representation and the plaintiff to pay the cost of NLe3, 000 to counsel for the defendants.

In the judgment, the Chairman of the empanel Judges Chief Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards read that the directives of the President to conduct the election using PR System was in tandem of the 1991 constitution and that the current parliament will soon be dissolved as their will be revision of constituencies.

He read further that independent candidate can still contest the election and pursuant to the current laws, all local council elections are to be conducted on the PR system.

Chief Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards read that all directives prayed for by Counsel for the Plaintiff to conduct the June 24th election on the first pass the post system are refused, adding that the PR system does not in anyways affect the citizens right to vote.

He stated that governments have come and gone but parliament as the law making body did not repeal section 38(a) and said that in the proper construction of section 38(a) all conditions were met.

In his humble and apt submission, lead counsel for the plaintiffs, Dr. Abdulai Osman Conteh said they took into cognizance the 53 pages judgment which he described as a judgment full of promises, adding that they in the future justice will be attended with a better future to assure the peace, liberty and tranquility of the state.

The Counsel for the 1st Defendant, Robert B Kowa said he appreciated the judgment but said he cannot clarify between the new Leones and old Leones.

The Counsel for the 2nd Defendant, Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai commended the court for the swiftness the matter was handled while he urged the lower courts to copy same from the Supreme Court.

Speaking to this medium via mobile phone interview, the ECSL Boss, Mohamed Kenewui Konneh said they are happy they acted within the ambit of the law.