Freetown — Tensions between the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) and the National Elections Watch (NEW) have reportedly escalated in the aftermath of the 2023 General Elections, with the election monitoring group accusing the Commission of exclusion and efforts to marginalise independent observers.
The strained relationship followed public comments by NEW Chairperson, Marcella Samba Sesay, who stated after the polls that no presidential candidate met the constitutional threshold of 55 percent in the first round. Her assertion contrasted sharply with ECSL’s official declaration that President Julius Maada Bio secured victory with more than 55 percent of the votes.
Since then, relations between the two institutions have deteriorated. Speaking on a televised programme, NEW National Coordinator, Reverend James Lahai, alleged that ECSL has refused to engage with the organisation since 2023, despite repeated invitations to participate in its public activities.
“From 2023 to now, ECSL has not honoured any of our invitations,” Rev. Lahai said, adding that the Commission has remained absent from all NEW programmes.
He further alleged that NEW observers were recently barred from a Paramount Chieftaincy election after being told they lacked accreditation.
According to him, accrediting observers for chieftaincy elections has never been standard practice, describing the action as discriminatory and without precedent.
Rev. Lahai claimed the incident was part of a broader attempt to silence NEW and restrict its role in promoting transparency and inclusivity in the electoral process.
He accused ECSL of systematically excluding the organisation from election-related engagements, a move he said undermines democratic values.
“NEW has observed elections in Sierra Leone since 2002, but since 2023 we have been sidelined,” he said, warning that continued exclusion of independent observers could have serious consequences for the country’s democracy.
He also criticised the leadership of ECSL, alleging that some Commissioners now act as though the institution belongs to them, rather than serving as a national body mandated to manage elections in the public interest.
Rev. Lahai concluded by warning that the lack of accountability, which he said was evident during the 2023 elections, has encouraged ongoing marginalisation of independent election observers, a trend he described as dangerous for Sierra Leone’s democratic future.
