NEC Retraining Staff Ahead Of Sierra Leone’s March 27 Vote

The National Electoral Commission (NEC) Sierra Leone is carrying out cascade retraining of its staff for the delivery of successful and credible presidential run-off election on 27 March.

The Commission has 84,000 personnel for electoral duties.

Commissioner Miata French and other senior NEC officials went round the training centres on Thursday to stress the need for professionalism by the electoral officials.

At the YWCA Training Institute, Brookfields, Freetown, she urged trainees to discharge their duties with the highest sense of responsibility.

The training is taking place against the backdrop of a statement by NEC on Wednesday alleging “unwarranted” entry into its premises and “random interrogation” of its staff by the police, over alleged electoral malpractices.

Informed sources said a national emergency security meeting was expected to take place on Thursday to address electoral security issues ahead of the crucial presidential run-off contest between the flag bearers of opposition SLPP and the ruling APC following the inconclusive March 7 elections.

Meanwhile, from the results of 125 of the 132 contested parliamentary seats released by NEC, APC has 63 seats; SLPP 46; Coalition for Change (C4C) 08; National Grand Coalition (NGC) 04, and for the first time in the country’s history, the parliament will have four independent MPs.

In another development, a High Court decision is being awaited on the petition filed by a lawyer seeking an injunction to stop the run-off vote over alleged irregularities.

Given the country’s history, political experts have called for extreme caution during this delicate period and warned about the dire consequences of a derailment of the on-going electoral process to consolidate peace and democracy in the country and by extension, the ECOWAS region.