The leader of the main opposition SLPP, John Benjamin has expressed “dissatisfaction” and “disappointment” over the “sluggish” manner in which the Sierra Leone judiciary has responded to their challenge to the outcome of the presidential election of November last year.
He told Politico that his party was now of the firm view that the judiciary “is undermining democracy” in the country by “not moving in a manner that is reflective of justice”.
He cited Ghana and Kenya where he said elections were held much later that in Sierra Leone but the judiciary had already dealt with opposition petitions.
He said however that there had been not even a response from the judiciary regarding the SLPP petition, adding, “the institution that should ensure good governance is undermining it”.
The SLPP filed a complaint petitioning the result of last year’s election citing irregularities and fraud. However international observers gave the process a clean bill of health. Benjamin said he would have loved the matter to be raised by US President Barack Obama during his recent meeting with four African leaders among them Ernest Bai Koroma.
