The National Organization of Sierra Leoneans in North America (NOSLINA), a non-political, nonpartisan body formed by Sierra Leoneans has appealed for a free and fair elections in the upcoming 2018 elections in Sierra Leone.
NOSLINA made the call in their March 1, 2018 press release in Washington as part of their committment to promoting democratic principles and to ensuring the protection of basic human rights in an up-and-coming Sierra Leone that is striving to implement the principles of good governance.
Sierra Leone’s general elections are scheduled to take place on Wednesday, March 7, 2018 when the nation go to the polls to elect a new president and a set of legislators and local council representatives.
According to the NOSLINA release, the organization is exhorting the National Electoral Commission (NEC) of Sierra Leone to conduct elections that are orderly and violence-free as the world watches Sierra Leoneans exercise their voting rights at the polls, NOSLINA urged the people of Sierra Leone to be vigilant and thoughtful, in order to elect the best candidates for their country.
The NOSLINA Board of Directors concluded their statement by calling for results that represented the will of the people in a process that is fair and free to realize a forward and brighter Sierra Leone for all Sierra Leoneans across the globe.
[Click to read about a Sierra Leone Nurse in the USA]
The main presidential contenders of the March 7 poll are Samura Kamara of the ruling All Peoples Congress (APC) and Julius Maada Bio of the main opposition Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP). There are also two female presidential aspirants in the persons of the Unity Party (UP) candidate Olufemi Claudius-Cole Josephine, a nurse, and the Revolutionary United Front Party (RUFP) candidate Gbandi Jemba Ngobeh, a proprietress.
According to NEC boss Mohamed N’fah Alie Conteh, to win in the first round, a candidate must poll over 55% of valid votes cast. Unlike in parts of Africa where only over 50% is required to win in the first round. Ernest Bai Koroma is the current president of the Republic of Sierra Leone.
Source: NOSLINA/Sierra Leone News Portals
Oral Ofori is Founder and Publisher at www.TheAfricanDream.net, a digital storyteller and producer, and also an information and research consultant.
