By: Mohamed Jalloh
Mohamed Konewui Konneh, the Electoral Commissioner of Sierra Leone has revealed at a press conference by warning political parties that they don’t have the power to announce election results.
Social media is been washed of politicians calling results declaring their party of winning the elections.
Mr Konneh said ECSL is the only body that is constitutionally mandated to announce results and went further to point out to political parties that they must allow him to exercise his powers accordingly.
He noted that ECSL staff is currently retrieving voting materials from polling stations and stated that it should not be misconstrued by the general public to mean that ECSL staff is transporting sensitive materials.
“After voting all results are recorded on the result and reconciliation form (RRF) and given to the political party representatives and the polling station manager for onward transmission to the ECSL district office which will be later transported to the regional tally centre”, he explained.
Mr Konneh disclosed that results are being tallied at the regional centres with the regional returning officers at the helm which will be later transmitted to the national returning officer.
He said even though some centres opened late people were able to cast their votes on time for the closure of polls at 5 pm.
“I will be checking at the national tally centre at Wellington to analyse the situation and as soon as a substantial amount has been tallied, I will announce the results I have that are ready” he stated.
He commended the international and national observers for monitoring the elections and at the same time praised the security sector for providing adequate security during the elections.
He went on to urge them to provide security for the post-election period which he said is crucial to the stability and security of the nation.
