- Distinguished members, supporters, and sympathizers of the All People's Congress Party, my fellow Sierra Leoneans, have a very good evening. It is with profound gratitude and deep appreciation that I speak to you this evening about the reports of the Tripartite Committee. First and foremost, I wish to thank each one of you for your unwavering patience and steadfast support during the period of the Tripartite Committee's work. Your resilience and commitment to national peace, unity, and security as we pursue our
- 0:43
cause have been nothing short of inspirational. Let us remind ourselves of what led to the formation of the Tripartite Committee. This committee was born out of a necessity by both the APC and the SAPP government, supported by our international supporters, to restore faith in our electoral processes and to ensure that the will of the people is upheld most transparently and credibly possible.
- 1:21
On June 24, 2023, Sierra Leone held its multiple elections, which included presidential, parliamentary, mayoral, and local council elections. The Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone declared incumbent President Julius Madabu the winner with 56.1% of the votes. However, this announcement was met with significant resistance and allegations of irregularities from the opposition, the All People's Congress party, and local and international election observers.
- 2:03
The APC, along with several observers, raised serious concerns about the electoral process before, during, and after the elections. This included a widely condemned midterm census and the introduction of the district block proportional representation system.
- 2:24
with limited consultation, the high threshold that restricted smaller parties' participation, and issues with the voter register. Oppression challenges, such as the poor quality of voter identification cards and delayed delivery of ballot boxes, further exacerbated the situation.
- 2:50
Allegations of bias and partisanship within the ECSL cast a shadow over its integrity and impartiality, not only to conduct the elections but also to announce the election results. These issues led to heightened states of tension and mistrust between the ruling SLBP government and
- 3:15
and the opposition APC. To address this political impasse, a three-day mediated dialogue was organized from October 16th to 18th. This dialogue was facilitated by esteemed bodies, including the African Union, ECOWAS, the Commonwealth,
- 3:40
and the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion. Through these efforts, the Agreement for National Unity was signed between the government of Sierra Leone and the APC. A key outcome of this agreement was the establishment of
- 3:56
of the Cross-Party Committee on Electoral Systems and Management Bodies Review, known as the Charpatite Committee. This committee was tasked with a vital mission to review and examine the electoral systems, structures, and processes of the 2023 elections and previous electoral cycles.
- 4:25
Its mandate included assessing the legal framework, operational capacity of the ECSL, and proposing reforms to enhance transparency and credibility in future elections. The committee was co-chaired by the government, the APC. His deliberations also included engagements with representatives from civil society organizations, other critical state institutions, and a wide spectrum of stakeholders across the country, thereby ensuring a comprehensive and inclusive approach to its work.
- 5:16
This was an immense undertaking, one that required meticulous attention to detail and a collaborative spirit. The committee was given a time frame within which to complete these tasks. And despite the complexity and breadth of the issues at hand, significant progress was made. And on another momentous day, on July 1, 2024,
- 5:52
The committee presented its report, including an outline framework for the implementation of its findings and recommendations. I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the APC team, ably led by Dr. Kaifala Marat.
- 6:13
The team comprise Dr. Richard Conte, Honorable Ambassador Almami Perjito Kuruma, Lawyer Boniface Sidiki Kamara, Mr. David Foner, Madam Bernadette Cargo, and Mr. Prince Thole.
- 6:30
Their dedication and hard work have been instrumental in our efforts. Working alongside them was another group of dedicated individuals known as the Technical Committee, led by Dr. Joseph Sam-Sisse. The expertise and commitment were invaluable in navigating through the various operational,
- 6:52
legal and electoral issues. Through determined negotiation and collaboration, both the SLPP and APC teams successfully agreed on 80 crucial points. This is a testament to what can be achieved when we come together in the spirit of unity and purpose. Fellow Sierra Leoneans, in any group endeavor, the differences in opinion, approach, and results are inevitable.
This diversity is reflected in the Tripartite Committee's report, which comprises two divergent perspectives, one submitted by the APC representatives and the other by the SLPP representatives. As stated on page 53 of the report, the APC holds that statistical inconsistencies call into question the results declared by the ECSL
- 8:07
and demands a rerun of the 2023 elections to be facilitated by the ECWAS Commission and the immediate resignation of the personnel of electoral management bodies. The government, on the other hand, maintains that the results as declared by the ECSL are valid. These divergent positions are fully articulated in the respective analysis annexed to the Trappist-Tite report. contentious issues, including ensuring the transparency and credibility of electoral processes, addressing the legal framework governing elections, and accountability, and
- 8:53
improving the operational efficiency of the ECSL remain unresolved. These are currently at the top of our priority list, and we are working diligently with our international development partners to resolve them expeditiously. Fellow Australians, we have consistently demonstrated our belief in the tenets of democracy. And in every democratic election,
- 9:31
it is vital that as voters we understand how our votes are counted and who, among all the candidates received the highest number of votes based on a transparent and fair counting process. Unfortunately this fundamental right has been denied to us as voters by the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone. The ECSL has failed to provide transparency in how the votes were tallied. One of the excuses is that they are not required by the constitution of Sierra Leone to be
- 10:10
transparent in this regard. Another excuse is that the resource reconciliation forms, RRFs, are classified information. This lack of transparency is deeply troubling. Moreover, the ECSL has been unable to produce any credible evidence of the numbers they assigned to all candidates in the elections. Equally alarming is the fact that the SLPP party, which has declared the winner, has
- 10:45
also failed to provide any credible evidence to support the votes they were assigned. It is indeed strange that both the elections management body and the party declared as winners cannot produce tangible evidence to support their claims. This coincidence is too significant to ignore. Furthermore, the APC provided evidence in the form of verifiable results
- 11:16
reconciliation forms, RRFs, from 70.2% of polling stations nationwide, signed by the ECSL officials, party agents, and observers, showing that Dr. Samurai Kamara had a commanding lead with 57.15% of the votes, making it impossible for the SIP candidate to win
- 11:41
at a first ballot. The APC has also been able to demonstrate the gross inconsistencies and mathematical impossibilities in the ECSL's partial 60 percent and final 100 percent announced presidential results. It is noteworthy that this only confirmed reports of skepticism by local and international elections of Davos. Considering these findings, one of our key recommendations is for a rerun of the elections to be conducted by ECOWAS immediately.
- 12:21
This step is essential to restoring the faith of the people in our electoral process and ensuring that the true will of the Sierra Leonean people is reflected in the results. The integrity of our electoral process is the bedrock of our democracy. The voters of Sierra Leone deserve
- 12:43
to know that their votes are counted accurately and transparently. The ECS's refusal to provide this transparency undermines the very foundation of our democratic system. Our voters must have faith in the electoral process and the ECSL must ensure this faith is upheld. The failure to produce the RRFs and the subsequent excuses offered are unacceptable. We must demand accountability and transparency
- 13:20
in our elections to maintain the trust of the people. Let us stand together in our demand for a transparent and fair electoral process. Let us continue to support the principles of democracy and ensure that the will of the people is respected and accurately reflected in the election results.
- 13:43
The APC party leadership and I have been for the past 12 months totally immersed in the struggle for electoral justice, the fight to protect your votes. This has been a very difficult battle to save our democracy. At the same time, we have had to navigate the rough seas of doubters, misinformers, disinformers, and distractors and I can assure you that it has not been easy but also not insurmountable. Despite these, It is my firm conviction that our country must now depart from the old normal, which
- 14:32
is the business-as-usual style of politics. There can be no progress, no democracy, no development where the people are ignored and deprived of their right to choose. This is the desired politics for the people. This is the desired politics for the people. In light of what we see happening in many.