Imposing Edmond Alpha as ECSL Commissioner Southern Region… SLPP Unleashes another Game Plan For 2028 Elections
By Kelvin Jay
Provision in the 1991 constitution stipulates that the Electoral Commissioner shall be appointed after consultation with All Registered Political Parties in SierraLeone. This provision shall be adhered to in the good spirit of Democracy, but in the case of Edmond Alpha, the main opposition party, APC, say that they weren’t consulted on the reappointment of Edmond Alpha as proposed ECSL Commissioner for Southern Region.
Raising the alarm bell, the APC Chief Whip in Parliament, Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara, contested the decision, citing a breach of the constitution, especially the caveat that has to do with the consultation of All Political Parties before such reappointment is made.
The vociferous APC Parliamentarian read the relevant clause in the 1991 constitution that emphasizes on consultation of All Registered Political Parties in Sierra Leone before the appointment of ECSL Commissioner, proudly stating that the APC, as an individual political party, was not consulted prior to that decision.
“The APC, as an individual Political party, was not consulted on the reappointment of Edmond Alpha as ECSL Commissioner Southern Region”, he asserted.
Objecting to the APC Parliamentarian’s claim, Hon. Mathew Nyuma, SLPP Leader of Government Business, said they received a letter from PPRC, showing that Political Parties were consulted before the reappointment of Edmond Alpha as ECSL Commissioner. “From the record we have in our possession, ALL Political Parties were consulted before the reappointment of Edmond Alpha as ECSL Commissioner Southern Region”, said the Leader of Government Business.
Despite the argument put forward by both sides of the aisle, the bone of contention still stands, with views asserting that the APC was not consulted as an individual Political party before such appointment was made.
Political Commentators have added their voices to the debate, citing the breach of the process, as stipulated in the constitution, and describing such action as a game plan for SLPP to stay in power, come 2028.
However, SierraLeoneans have been having issues with the interpretation of our 1991 constitution, especially with the appointment of Commissioners.
The language used by the drafters of the Constitution is very much ambiguous, creating room for divergent interpretations of certain clause and sections in the constitution. Perhaps, this is something the Constitutional Review Committee should be looking into to make the Constitution simpler for interpretation, to avoid the continuous confusion or abuse of power.
