Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. Sierra Leone’s Chief Minister, Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, has subtly responded to a highly publicized video by First Lady Fatima Maada Bio, in which she leveled several allegations about the recently concluded Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) National Young Generation Council elections in Bo.
The contest for the SLPP National Young Generation Leader position was primarily between Civil Engineer Francis Alpha Kallon, the incumbent Youth Leader who is believed to be supported by David Moinina Sengeh and his Radical Inclusion Movement (RIM) and Maada Kabanja Kemokai who is belived to be supported by First Lady Fatima Bio’s camp of the party.
In a concise statement, Chief Minister Sengeh took to social media, writing: “The youth and women of SLPP didn’t vote for me. They are voting for their future – for inclusion, participation, & transparency.”
While not directly naming the First Lady or addressing her specific claims, his statement appears to align with a broader call for fair electoral processes within the party, a theme central to the First Lady’s concerns.
First Lady Fatima Maada Bio, in a 51-minute video widely shared online, had earlier described the Bo election process as “chaotic and unfair.” She specifically accused Engineer Francis Alpha Kallon and his team of orchestrating a tense environment by allegedly bringing soldiers into Bo.
Among her most serious claims, she stated that one of Kallon’s associates, dressed in a security uniform, fired a shot inside the election hall. She asserted that this individual, now in custody, was not a legitimate security officer but was impersonating one and carrying live ammunition.
The First Lady further detailed alleged irregularities in the voting process, asserting that no proper ballot papers were used. Instead, she claimed that delegates were given cut-up white A4 paper to cast their votes, despite 166 delegates being present. She described a “strange and open to confusion” voting system where one piece of paper signified a vote for Maada Kemokai, while two pieces indicated a vote for Francis Kallon.
Fatima Bio emphasized that Kallon’s victory would not have been an issue if it had been achieved through a “fair and open way.” She contended that the process was opaque, with only Kallon’s supporters permitted to observe the proceedings inside the voting hall. She also highlighted that Maada Kemokai’s wife was reportedly barred from entering the hall, while Kallon’s team allegedly filled the hall wearing T-shirts bearing his face, an act she described as intimidation.
The First Lady also raised concerns about the conduct of senior party officials, noting that the National Chairman entered the hall hand-in-hand with Kallon and sat beside him during the election, with the Deputy Chairman also present. She viewed this as evidence of unfairness. She reiterated her claim that at least 50 soldiers were present in Bo during the elections, asserting they were brought in by Kallon himself.
Calling for party leaders to intervene to maintain peace within the SLPP, Fatima Bio stressed that neither Maada Kabanja Kemokai nor Francis Alpha Kallon are above the party, and both should be engaged in discussions to resolve the dispute.
She warned that the contention between the two aspirants for the National Young Generation Leader position jeopardizes party unity, which she deems more important than any individual title.
For More News And Analysis About Sierra-Leone Follow Africa-Press
