By Amin Kef (Ranger)
Confirmed reports from the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC) indicates that only three registered political parties have satisfied all the criteria needed to contest in the June 24, 2023 elections. The report states further that these parties are the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) and the National Grand Coalition (NGC).
But as was being expressed by majority of Sierra Leoneans that the coming elections could turn out violent and are therefore calling on Election Management Bodies (EMBs) to ban street political rallies as these can be fore-runners to full-blown violence on Election Day – June 24, the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC) has finally let the cat out of the bag, that unless political parties display maturity, responsibility and care in managing their respective political street rallies, the PPRC will have no option other than to ban ALL political street rallies.
It is no hidden fact that whenever it comes to elections and election campaigns, that is the time when violence is unleashed between and among political party rivals and unfortunately it is the innocent people who have no hands in the affairs of the political parties that are rallying are the ones who ultimately suffer. And most times, they have no recompense for whatever they suffer at the hands of supporters of political parties taking part in rallies.
It is against this background that even though it is being mooted that the Executives of both the SLPP and APC are busy accusing each other of being afraid of political street rallies because it would show which party truly has the numbers to win the June 24 elections, the PPRC has come out strong to caution them.
But if we should critically look at the prevailing circumstances and the fact that rallies haven’t even been declared open and already the two main political parties are having disagreements about which has the bigger crowd, then the fears of Sierra Leoneans that the run-up to the elections could be violent and even the elections are justified and the PPRC can go ahead to declare a ban on all political street rallies across the country.
Maybe political parties can resort to holding meetings in secure areas with police protection. This could be a better, safer, more secure and more acceptable option to especially those people that have no business with political rallies but fall victims.
