Incumbent President of Sierra Leone Julius Maada Bio has won the country’s presidential election, securing a second term in office, electoral commission has announced.
Maada Bio secured more than 56% of the votes to avoid a run-off against main rival Samura Kamara.
“I hereby certify that Bio Julius Maada having polled… 56.17% of the total valid vote cast … is elected president,” Sierra Leone’s chief electoral commissioner Mohamed Kenewui Konneh said.
His closest rival Samura Kamara, of the All People’s Congress (APC), had 41%. In order to win in the first round, a candidate needs more than 55% of the vote.
Kamara, 72, who suffered a narrow defeat in the 2018 election has rejected the declared results.
“These results are not credible and I categorically reject the outcome so announced by the electoral commission,” Kamara said on Twitter after the announcement of final results.
My compatriots. We have heard the unfortunate announcement of the elections results for the June 24 Presidential elections by the Chief Electoral Commissioner Mr Konneh. It is a sad day for our beloved country. It is a frontal attack on our fledgling democracy. These results are…
— SamuraKamara2023 (@samurakamara201) June 27, 2023
The APC had previously made complaints about the conduct of the election and the electoral commission.
Mr. Kamara said on Sunday that live ammunition was fired into his party’s headquarters as he held a news conference. A woman there was reportedly wounded and there are fears for her life.
Saturday’s vote took place in a tense atmosphere at the culmination of a campaign marred by several violent incidents.
Supporters of both main parties have been accused of attacking opponents.
Accusations of election irregularities were also being thrown on Saturday, after Mr Kamara alleged ballot stuffing and voter suppression in some parts of the country.
However, the electoral body had insisted, in a press conference earlier this week, that they had mechanisms in place to ensure a fair vote.
What Germany’s new immigration law means for African skilled workers
Source: Africafeeds.com
