By: Ilyasa Baa
The first day of the voter registration exercise was largely peaceful with no intimidation reported to have taken place in Makeni.
The encouraging turnout was attributed to the massive sensitization carried out by members of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) including the SLPP Northern Politicians Chairman and the District Imam who traversed the length and breadth of Bombali calling for peaceful registration of voters for June 24 general elections.
The Chairman, Sheikh Umar Amin Kanu said political parties should talk to their supporters and the general public to distance themselves from intimidation and the use of violence in politics. He said President Bio is democratic, being a man of peace; he has created a level playing field for the conduct of credible elections in the country. He called on Bombalians to maintain the peace the President has fought hard for and not allow evil-minded selfish politicians to misuse them this time around.
The District Imam, Alusine Kargbo called on them to take the registration exercise seriously noting that it is incumbent on the citizens to exercise their fundamental voting rights.
The registration process especially at Tekoh Road in Makeni did not start on time due to what the Election Commission Sierra Leone described as a little issue with the machine.
The Voters Education, Training Officer (VETO) for the district, Jalloh maintained that a team of ICT Specialists was dispatched to settle the score immediately after the Commission was tipped off.
He said one of the challenges faced in the early hours has to do with their staff forgetting the password to open the machine. He further expressed that challenges are bound to be faced but that the Commission is doing the needful for the exercise to go on smoothly.
