July 3, 2015
The Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC) yesterday informed newsmen that it will not continue with the mediation process between members of the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) as the Ambassador Allie Bangura group has backed out of the process and has taken the matter to the Supreme Court.
This was disclosed during a press conference to brief the media about the mediation process in resolving the impasse between Ambassador Bangura and the national executive of the SLPP.
In his welcome statement, Commissioner Alhaji Muctarr B. Williams informed journalists that party members loyal to Ambassador Bangura approached the commission to address the issue relating to the expulsion of the latter. He stated that during the mediation process, an expressed understanding was reached by both sides in which the national executive officers decided to convey an SLPP NEC meeting to reinstate Ambassador Bangura, and further requested that the latter withdraw the matter in court.
PPRC Chairman, Justice M.E. Tolla Thompson, told journalists that the commission started the mediation between both sides after the party’s convention in Bo. He said before the release of the commission’s report, Ambassador Bangura had already filed a case to the Supreme Court. He emphasized that the commission has no jurisdiction to hold a parallel settlement, as the court is already looking into the matter.
With regards the expulsion of Ambassador Bangura, Justice Thompson said the commission was almost at the tail end of the mediation process when the Bangura group decided to withdraw from the process, saying they wanted the commission to make a ruling on the expulsion of their leader.
Justice Thompson made it categorically clear that the PPRC is not a court but a body set up to mediate and bring political party members together.
He stressed that the national executive officers of the party were still willing to continue with the mediation process but that he was perplexed to realize that an affidavit with regards the expulsion was also filed to the court.
In his statement, Commissioner N’fa Allie Conteh informed journalists that since the two matters are now in the Supreme Court, the commission would be constrained to adequately address the impasse.
When asked if the commission will resume the matter if requested, Commissioner Conteh said it is the mandate of the PPRC and that the commission is always ready to settle disputes between and among political parties.