By: Ilyasa Baa
The controversially embattled Chairman of the People’s Liberation Party (PLP) Dr. Baba Kandeh, has said for his integrity not to go at stake, he would take legal action against the Chairman of the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC) whom he said failed to settle the matter brought before the Commission since 2018 when he was complained to the PPRC by members of the party.
Dr. Kandeh accused the Chairman of taking sides against him in support of the members including the party Youth Leader who reported him on the grounds that he was not calling meetings and that he was using his family members and house for his selfish desire within the party.
According Dr. Kandeh, the PPRC Chairman legitimised those that lodged his complaint asking them to take the party to Lower-Level elections and subsequently go to convention without him as the Chairman of the party. He regarded the party’s delegates list submitted to the Commission as fake pointing out that it composed names were selected only from Freetown. He said now that it has come out clear that the PRPC could not mediate to settle their party issue all these years, he would use the best option which is to go to court. He pointed out that he had tried to reach the Chairman on phone but his effort yielded no fruit as the Chairman could not pick up his calls.
Chairman of PPRC, Abdulai Bangura (Esq) described the utterances of Dr. Kandeh as a serious allegation against him which he said is very unfair to the Commission.
“I inherited this matter in June, 2019 when I got my appointment to lead the Commission”, he said.
PPRC Chairman furthered that there were complaints that Dr. Kandeh was using members of his family instead of party members. He said there was an allegation of misappropriation of party funds by Dr. Kandeh. According to the PPRC boss, the matter has to do with a National Executive Council to which he invited people who were not members of the party but it they were driven by the aggrieved and recognised members of the party.
He stressed that when he took over office, he tried to mediate but the atmosphere was not conducive due to the infights within the party.
“My doors are still open to Dr. Baba Kandeh”, Chairman maintained.
It could be recalled that in 2018, PLP did not make much impact because of the internal rancour and it is foreseen that it will not take part in the Presidential election come June 24th unless they reconcile their differences.