The Electoral Commissioners of Sierra Leone have addressed the 3% difference between the National Election Watch (NEW) tally and the official 2023 election results.
During a recent press briefing at their Freetown headquarters, Commissioner Abubakarr Koroma, representing the North, shed light on the electoral process and explained the reasons for the discrepancy.
Speaking on Monday, Koroma highlighted that the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) deployed 11,832 polling station staff nationwide, compared to NEW’s 700 polling staff. He emphasized that the estimated marginal difference between their results was a mere 6%.
“NEW’s upper limit indicates 53.1% for the ruling SLPP party and 49.1% for the APC party,” Koroma stated.
He noted that during the 2023 elections, the Proportional Representation Voting System (PRVT) posed challenges not only in Sierra Leone but globally. He pointed out that while NEW covered 700 polling stations, ECSL covered 11,832. NEW reported 53.1% for the SLPP, whereas ECSL reported 56.1%, considering the entire process.
Koroma asserted that the marginal difference was only 3%. “In my view, it is not a significant issue, as it is just a 3% difference. We covered more ground, but PRVT posed serious challenges, not only in Sierra Leone but worldwide,” he added.
The Commissioners acknowledged that PRVT-related electoral challenges are reported globally.
“I’m not saying it is the same in Sierra Leone, but it happens,” Koroma remarked. They argued that not all observers are independent and that some might face challenges regarding result accuracy during elections.
Koroma disclosed that the 2023 election data does not include votes from security forces, who only vote for the presidential candidate. He cited Kenya and Malawi as examples of African countries where election results were released but later overturned by the supreme court.
Ranking both parties, Koroma noted that a sample may not be nationally representative.
Another Commissioner stated that while ECSL has the disaggregated data, those aggrieved should seek redress in the supreme court if the law does not permit other actions.
