By Nasratu Kargbo
Member of Parliament for Karene District Mohamed Bangura has said their party’s National Advisory Committee (NAC) didn’t do thorough consultation before taking the decision to boycott all forms of governance.
Bangura made this statement in an online interview broadcast on the 15th July 2023 whilst explaining the reasons he did not adhere to the demands made by his party.
The MP stated the decision taken has a far-reaching implication, adding that before such demands are made thorough consultations should have been held.
He said that half of NAC members were absent from the meeting where the decision was taken, stating “I have all the evidence to prove that the body that took the position were not fully seated. So they have no right to make such a decision on behalf of the party membership”.
The MP explained that he intends to ask their members how they will get a rerun of the polls if they refuse to go to court and what will be their next line of action after boycotting governance. However, he said that they were not allowed to make contributions or ask questions, stressing that proper consultations were not done.
In addition, Bangura said he does not know how his party wants their questions to be answered if they’ve decided not to go to court, noting that only the Supreme Court has the power to sanction a rerun of the polls.
He said their party’s concerns are legitimate, citing an incident in Karene where he said from all the Result Reconciliation Forms (RFF) Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) got close to nine thousand votes, but when the results were announced the party was said to have nineteen thousand votes. He said the same happened in areas like Port Loko, Western Area Urban and Rural amongst others. Bangura however noted that the only place their concerns can be addressed is in the court of law.
The MP stated that he has been called a traitor due to his decision to take the oath of office, noting that he had encountered so many challenges such as arrest, confiscation of his car, amongst others.
The All People’s Congress (APC) in a press release dated 13th July 2023 expressed disappointment in Bangura’s actions and noted that they will take disciplinary action.
“His disobedience of the decision of the NAC constitutes a cause for STRONG disciplinary action under Chapter 6 of the APC Constitution 2022. Thus, the Honourable Mohamed Bangura, along with the APC rank and file and the general public, is hereby informed that the Party has initiated disciplinary action against Honourable Mohamed Bangura in line with the provisions of the APC 2022 Constitution” a part of the release reads.
Sierra Leone’s Main Opposition in a press release dated 30th June 2023 had expressed the party’s position of not participating in legislative and local council governance if fresh elections were not conducted within six months.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (17/07/23)
