By Sorie Fofana.
The voter registration exercise which was conducted by the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone has ended. An extension is not likely. Both the ruling SLPP and the main opposition APC have commended the exercise describing it as a huge success.
In a public notice dated 11th October, 2022 the Secretary General of the ruling SLPP, Umaru Napoleon Koroma wrote, โWhilst waiting for the ECSL to publish the figures, we want to assure the general public that our tally centre has already given us an inkling into the figures. The SLPP figures from our tally centre have already given us an edge and is largely reflective of the mid-term census resultsโ.
During the voter registration exercise, I monitored it, by visiting several voter registration centres nationwide. Both the APC and the SLPP deployed Party Agents in each and every centre I visited from Kailahun to Kono, from Daru to Segbwema, from Makeni to Fadugu and, of course, from Kabala to Manjoro. Both the APC and the SLPP had their Party Agents fully deployed to monitor the exercise.
One of the major challenges I witnessed in several voter registration centres was the issue of identification. Several fake birth certificates were refused by ECSL registration officers and referred to NCRA officials for verification. NCRA officials collaborated with ECSL in ensuring that the voter registration exercise went on very well. They have been commended for their tremendous support to the exercise.
๐ฆ๐๐ฃ๐ฃ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฏ ๐๐น๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐
The SLPP are leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that they win the Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Council elections slated for June 2023. The voter registration exercise was huge and capital intensive. The SLPPโs management of the exercise was exemplary. It shows the seriousness the party attaches to the June 2023 elections. They are taking no chances. The voter registration exercise was well-coordinated, well planned and kept under systematic review.
In his press release of 11th October, 2022 Umaru Napoleon Koroma concluded, โAs we are poised for a resounding victory in 2023, we want to encourage our supporters to keep the energy level high, pick up their voter ID cards when the time for issuance comes and wait to vote for President Julius Maada Bio in June 2023โ.
๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐๐น๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐ถ๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ถ๐ผ
Judging by the way the SLPP are preparing for the June 2023 elections and from the figures already captured from their voter registration tally centre, it appears as if President Julius Maada Bio is heading for a landslide victory.
Since his election in 2018, President Bio has pursued the implementation of his partyโs 2018 manifesto unceasingly.
Since 2018 to date, the budgetary allocation to the education sector has increased exponentially. Free quality education is the Presidentโs flagship project. 21% of the national budget is allocated to education.
The energy sector reforms have taken centre stage in President Bioโs New Direction administration. Human capital development, social justice policies, civil liberties, media freedom, girl child education, gender empowerment, national security continue to be pursued with relentless determination.
All said and done, President Bio is heading for an overwhelming victory (No Runoff) in June 2023. Up and down this country, fair-minded Sierra Leoneans have praised President Bio for taking Sierra Leone to a New Direction of development.
This week, Paramount Chiefs in Kono district promised to reward President Bio handsomely in June 2023 for connecting their district to the CLSG grid.
President Bio is heading for a landslide victory in June 2023. Mark my word!
