In a solemn ceremony today, Hon. Alfred Ayodele Thompson, a member of the All Peoples Congress (APC), took the oath of office as a Member of Parliament. The swearing-in ceremony comes in the wake of the June 24th Elections, which have been marred by controversy.
Hon. Thompson’s induction marks the second time an APC representative has assumed the role of MP, following in the footsteps of Hon. Mohamed Bangura.
The All Peoples Congress has chosen to engage in a boycott of government proceedings, a decision that has drawn attention and mixed reactions from the public.
The recent engagement between APC leader and presidential candidate, Dr. Samura Kamara, and the elected APC Members of Parliament, shed light on the party’s motivations behind the boycott.
Dr. Kamara expressed gratitude to the elected MPs for standing steadfastly by the party’s decision to refrain from participating in all levels of governance, including the Parliament. This move was a response to the controversial election results announced by the Elections Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL).
During the meeting held in Makeni city, Bombali District, Dr. Kamara reiterated the party’s commitment to core democratic principles such as the rule of law, transparency, accountability, social justice, and constitutionality. He called upon the elected MPs to remain united and trust in the process as they work towards the party’s just cause.
The absence of Members of Parliament representing the main opposition APC party was palpable during the State Opening of the 6th Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone. Notable among those present was Mohamed Bangura, who defied his party’s stance.
The boycott of government proceedings by APC Parliamentarians is a direct consequence of their dissatisfaction with the ECSL’s handling of the election results. Tensions within the APC party escalated due to disputes over the transparency and accuracy of the outcomes from the June multi-tier elections.
The elders of the APC party have publicly announced their intent to continue the boycott until their demands are met, which includes the release of election results by individual polling centers. This marks the fourth consecutive parliamentary session that APC MPs have chosen to abstain from, underscoring the deep-rooted tensions within the opposition party.
