By: Mohamed Sahr
Demonstrating a free, fair and transparent electioneering outcome in Sierra Leone, the Chief Commissioner of the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL), Mohamed Konneh announced the 2023 final results for the presidential candidate on Tuesday at the Bintumani Auditorium in Freetown.
Mohamed Konneh, who doubles as the National Returning Officer and Chief Commissioner for the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) declared the incumbent President and candidate of the Sierra Leone People’s Party, Julius Maada Bio as the winner.
He said the total number of valid votes cast was two million seven hundred and eighty-nine thousand, eight hundred and eight (2,789,808) and the total number of invalid votes cast was ten thousand eight hundred and eighty-three (10,883) representing 0.3% of the votes cast.
Commissioner Konneh mentioned that a total number of four hundred and twenty (420) polling stations were not entered into the result database which was either considered as results that were tempered with and being quarantined at the result database centre.
“The above results will not affect the outcome of the final presidential election,” Chief Commissioner Konneh said.
He continued that the details of the results from different polling stations would be posted on the ECSL website and the full breakdown of results from the districts would be attached. In particular order, the National Returning Officer called the results with Bah Mohamed Cherinor of National Democratic Alliance bagged twenty thousand, six hundred and twenty representing 0.77%, Bio Julius Maada of Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) got one million five hundred and sixty-six thousand, nine hundred and 32 votes (1,566,932) representing 56.17%, Sandi Jonathan Patrick of National Unity and Reconciliation Party (NURP) had one thousand three hundred and sixty-nine (1,369) representing 0.01%. Sowa Turay Mohamed of the United Democratic Movement (UDM) got one thousand six hundred and sixty-five (1,665) representing 0.06%. William Brentford George of Public National Independent Party (NIP) two thousand six hundred and ninety-two (2,692) representing 0.10%.
He revealed that by section 7 (52) 2 and (97) 4 of the Public Elections Act of 2022 at number 27 of 2022 and pursuant to Section 42(2e) of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone Act number 6 of 1991 declared Bio Julius Maada as the next President of the Republic of Sierra Leone.
