Former APC MPs demand ‘independent Judiciary’
April 30, 2018 By Jariatu S. Bangura
Some former APC Members of Parliament have urged the Judiciary of Sierra Leone to be independent in deciding current petition cases filed by both the ruling Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) and the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) against their respective lawmakers.
Hon. Amadu Fofanah, previously of Constituency 109 now 127, said the petition matters are a test case for the judiciary and that the trial Judges should look into the matters and give verdicts that would serve the interest of the country.
“International observers did recommend that the election was credible and now that petitions are being made, all these processes are sending a signal that even the presidency seat is not credible. We expect the civil society organisations to talk on constitutional breach. I think they should speak up as sometime they did speak about constitutional breaches before but now nobody is talking,” he said.
The ruling government has reportedly petitioned 21 opposition lawmakers, while the APC in turn has filed 31 petitions against ruling party MPs.
Also, Hon. Alhassan Kamara, hitherto of Constituency 96, which is now 115, said the current petition cases were not healthy and that if the new government wants to be successful, stable and achieve their policies, they should work with the entire parliament.
“Even though the APC has more seats in the House, that does not deter the SLPP from enacting laws or doing things that is in the interest of the country. When you have a very confrontational parliament as a ruling government, you will definitely going to fail. There is need for them to reconsider the petition process. You, as a winning government petitioned the proposed 21 opposition MPs for over voting, voting disruption and ballot stuffing, which is already in court. What does that call for, it is a democratic fraud. Also, if you petition those numbers of MPs based on allegations that are already in court regarding the winning of your presidency, what does that tell you? Even your winning of the presidency is questionable. You cannot petition MPs for voter intimidation, ballot stuffing and the likes. An electoral process that makes you a winner, to me is no brainer. I think they should reconsider it or else it will bring a limelight to the development of the country,” Hon. Kamara averred.
He added: “I urge the electorate to sit down and observe and we will be observing. I personally want the government to succeed and if they want to succeed, it is but for them to allow normal democratic process to continue as I believe in democracy and western normal ideas but what they are doing currently is on the wrong path.”