By: Ilyasa Baa
As modalities are being put in place for the peaceful conduct of five bye -elections including constituency 056 in Samaia Bendugu, Tonkolili district, the election management bodies including the Office of National Security (ONS),the National Elections Watch (NEW) and the National Electoral Commission (NEC) have raised concern over the transportation of thugs to election localities pointing out that they are responsible for election violence.
On Saturday June 25th, these by -elections; four wards and one constituency will take place in four districts. On June 7th an electoral violence erupted in Bendugu prompting the ONS and other stakeholders to get to the ground.
According to the Executive Secretary at NEC, William Davies, the presence of political party leaders with their supporters is a factor aggravating political tension. He said campaigns end today as Friday is expected to be a cool off day and the day for arrangement of logistics.
He said development partners like the European Union, the German Embassy, the Irish Aid have applied for accreditation to observe these elections. He said every election circle, they sign Memorandum of Understanding with NEW to observe the conduct of elections in the country stressing that there is need for the Commission to be concretely engaged by them before they issue out press releases so that they can discuss the issues first hand before going public.
NEW has also expressed the need for leaders of political parties to desist from taking along thugs or supporters to election localities.
The Director, Strategic Communication Unit, ONS, Abdul Karim Will has said the election localities are relatively peaceful according to their environmental security scanning carried out in the localities, recently.
He said the ban of street campaigns in Bendugu is in place and there has been full compliance.