In a significant development, former presidential candidate Samura Kamara, who leads the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party, has called for a comprehensive review of the June 2023 electoral process.
This plea was made during the launch of the Electoral System Review, a gathering attended by government representatives, APC members, and development partners.
During his address, Kamara emphasized the critical importance of scrutinizing the entire electoral process, encompassing pre-election procedures, voter registration, pooling procedures, vote counting, and result announcement. The focus is on identifying any systemic flaws or vulnerabilities that may have contributed to alleged or actual electoral irregularities.
Kamara expressed his conviction that a thorough review is essential for resolving contentious issues and enhancing the credibility of future elections.
He stressed the need for the committee overseeing the review to operate independently, free from external interference or undue influence, and to be granted the necessary authority and power to conduct effective investigations.
The former presidential candidate highlighted the APC’s careful selection of committee members based on proven integrity, experience, and expertise in election processes.
He urged that the committee be granted unrestricted access to all relevant documents, records, and information, including election results, voter data, and agreements between the electoral commission and any third parties.
Kamara advocated for the committee’s power to summon witnesses, experts, government officials, electoral authorities, political party representatives, and any other individuals deemed necessary for the investigations.
He further proposed that the committee should have the ability to request additional resources, technical expertise, or assistance from national and international organizations.
To ensure a comprehensive review, Kamara emphasized the need to collect and analyze all evidence pertaining to the electoral process. This includes conducting interviews and consultations with various stakeholders involved in the electoral process to verify the accuracy, integrity, and transparency of the entire election process.
Kamara also called for an examination of the conduct of electoral officers’ training process, their impartiality, and their compliance with electoral rules and regulations.
He urged that any financial and electoral materials that may have been misused or inappropriately allocated during the electoral process should be analyzed and accounted for.
In conclusion, Kamara asserted that the review committee should produce a comprehensive report outlining its findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
He emphasized that if any evidence of election malpractice is uncovered, the methods used, the individuals involved, and the impact on the fairness of the election outcome should be clearly documented.
