By Zainab Joaque
Contrary to reports in sections of the media last week that Internal Affairs Minister, Musa Tarawallie was turned away at a registration centre in Bo for giving a false residential address, it’s emerged that the minister registered at the start of the whole exercise on the 23rd of January in Bo.
In a brief telephone conversation with Politico, the Minister refused to be drawn on the details of his registration process but he expressed satisfaction that he had registered to take part in the elections. He said the incident that was mis-understood by some journalists involved a man named Fasallie and that the SLPP chairman in the district later confirmed Fasallie as “a legal resident of the area, thus paving the way for him to be registered.” “I am not disturbed by the report because these things happen from time to time,” the Minister said.
The NEC District Electoral Officer in Bo, Mohamed Turay confirmed to Politico that the Minister “went to the centre and registered with his convoy of security guards...there was an issue with someone that came with him. We could not ascertain where he resides in Bo, so we refused to register him at the J. Matta Center.”
In the last few weeks, registration issues have led to violent incidents in Pujehun district in particular. The allegations and counter allegations are now the subject of a high level investigation by a combined team of UN and PPRC officials.
Meanwhile, SLPP Chairman John Benjamin has publicly accused NEC Chairperson, Christiana Thorpe of “attempting to rig the election on behalf of the ruling party.” Details of this will be brought to you later.
