By Alpha Abu
The Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC) is to join parties on their campaign trail according to the commission’s Chairman Abdulai Masiambay Bangura.
He told a regional Security Sector meeting in Bo southern Sierra Leone yesterday 16th May that the commission will have members of staff in the campaigns to ensure full compliance with the provisions of the newly enacted Political Parties Act, as the elections are fast approaching.
He reiterated the commission’s ban on rallies which he said will be vigorously maintained, citing the measure as one of the recommendations presented by International Observers that covered the 2018 polls.
He said party supporters have in the past been rowdy and rude all in the name of rallies and much to the distress of people going about their normal activities.
He also criticized the peddling of reckless messages by politicians and their surrogates something he said has led to heightening tension in the country. He stressed the resolve of PPRC to enforce the provisions of the new Act in the event of any transgression.
The chairman mentioned the festering problem of destruction of campaign posters and banners though he acknowledged improvements in some instances mentioning how upon driving around some areas of Freetown immediately after both the ruling Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) and the main opposition All Peoples Congress (APC) had undertaken their presidential candidates’ nomination exercise, he was pleased to see the campaign materials were intact.
Bangura also informed the meeting of the commission’s introduction of an outreach initiative named “Unhindered Access” that is targeting all 16 districts in the country with the full involvement of the Chiefs to send to their communities messages of political tolerance and peaceful co-existence, during and after the elections.
The head of the PPRC said the institution will take over the whole country on the day before polling, transmitting recorded peace pledge messages from the political leaders and even getting some to put on the colours of their opponents, just to help reduce the tension the electioneering process has generated.
National Security Coordinator and head of the Office of National Security (ONS), Abdulai Caulker assured the gathering that the elections will be well policed and that they will be peaceful.
The engagement in Bo was attended by senior military and police officers, international security personnel, paramount chiefs, and representatives of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
The exercise goes to Makeni today and then to Port Loko tomorrow.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (17/05/23)
