By Amin Kef Sesay
In a letter dated 10thAugust 2021, written by Hon. Saa Emerson Lamina, Minority Leader for the C4C Party in Parliament and addressed to the Chairman of the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC), he made mention of a letter of complaint that was sent to the PPRC Chairman by one Hon. Sahr Charles, dated 3rd August, 2021.
He said in the aforementioned letter, Hon. Sahr Charles purported to have done so in the name of the Coalition for Change (C4C) Political Party, but emphatically stated that the author of the referenced correspondence has no locus standi to do so saying his action is completely ultra vires to Article 14 (b) (111, V1, V) of the C4C party constitution.
Hon. Saa Emerson Lamina continued that in such a vein he will respectfully state the position of the Coalition for Change (C4C) party with regards the issues raised in that letter of 3rd August, 2021, both for the record and to serve as a stern warning to shenanigans like Hon. Sahr Charles and Co whose incessant ultra vires actions appear to undermine the integrity of the party and to jeopardize the matter of the party in the High Court.
He highlighted how he wishes to therefore state that: the Headquarters and address of the Coalition for Change (C4C) Party has been formerly moved to No. 16 Main Motor Road, Congo Cross, Freetown, away from No. 1 Edward Lane, off Campbell Street, Freetown because the legitimacies of the administrators of that said office are in contention and the High Court of Judicature in the country has slammed an injunction on them making any of their actions in the name of the C4C party null and void.
He further stated that all the three (3) Contact telephone numbers of the party are authentic and are authorized by the leadership of the C4C Party.
Hon. Saa Emerson Lamina also mentioned that the logo so displayed on the banner at the C4C Party office on the second floor balcony of No. 16 Main Motor Road, Congo Cross in Freetown is legally used and was authorized for use by the leadership of the party.
The Minority Leader for the C4C Party said for the purpose of clarity he will state that like the SLPP’s National Executive Council (NEC) and the APC’s National Advisory Committee (NAC), the C4C’s National Coordinating Committee (NCC) is the second highest decision-making body in the party and has clearly spelt out officials who are members and this is similarly clearly articulated in Article 14 (b) (111, V1, V) of the C4C Constitution.
He intimated that among those officials, Hon. Sahr Charles is not a member but mentioned that as the Leader of the party’s Parliamentary representation, he is a member.
“For a person to be a member of the NCC, the approval must come either by authority of the NCC, by consensus, by acclamation or by secret ballot,” Hon. Saa Emerson Lamina highlighted adding how Hon. Sahr Charles did not meet any of those criteria for the appointments under whose authority he wrote that spurious letter.
The Legislator stated in his letter that the erstwhile C4C party Executive of Tamba Richard Sandi has not only raped Sections 24 and 25 of the PPRC Act of 2002 respectively by not complying to gazette the change of the C4C party’s address by its founding members but he is also recklessly strangulating the C4C Party to death as a result of: Administrative shortfalls and incompetence;
None Compliance with Provisions of the PPRC Act; none maintenance of Party membership register as provided for in Section 25 of the PPRC Act; none provision of financial and fiduciary reports; incapability to organize the C4C Party to contest bye-elections in the country; perpetuation of anti-party activities and violation of the C4C Constitution by not constituting the NCC like the SLPP -NEC; the APC-NAC to name but few.
Hon. Saa Emerson Lamina said as the Parliamentary Leader of the C4C Party in Parliament, a founder-member and member of the C4C-NCC, he is calling on both the PPRC and the NEC to discountenance Hon. Sahr Charles’ letter and treat his so-called complaint with disdain because of its frivolity and its lack of legality and constitutionality.
“I therefore wish to encourage both institutions through you Mr. Chairman, to continue directing and sending all correspondences to the Party’s Original Address and or the Pigeon Hole of my humble self in Parliament thus: C/O Hon. Saa Emerson Lamina, Parliament Building, OAU Drive, Tower Hill, Freetown as we look forward to the conclusion of the court matter,” he concluded the correspondence.
Copies of the letter were sent to: the National Electoral Commission, Leaders of Political Parties, Diplomatic and Consular Corp, Leadership of Parliament, CSOs, the Media and the C4C Global Chairman.
