By alhajim.kamara@awokonewpaper.sl
Freetown, SIERRA LEONE – The Secretary and Head of Secretariat of the Interim Transitional Governance Committee (ITGC), Honourable Abdul Kargbo, has said that the 2023 general elections is not about the All Peoples Congress (APC) but the people as a nation.
He said this in an interview with Awoko newspaper on Wednesday 14th December 2022 while responding to allegations of ongoing illegal registration of members at the residence of ‘Med Kay’ at the east end part of Freetown.
According to Hon Kargbo ITGC is currently speaking and working with one voice at the moment towards winning the 2023 elections, stating that they have settled and are working on meeting the timeline given by the Court for the completion of all lower level elections and also get a National Executive together with a flag-bearer.
“Initially we had scheduled our lower levels elections to commence on the 20th December 2022 on a public notice, but the ‘Big Six’ met with the PPRC stating they want open primaries,” he said, explaining that there call was for anyone who wants to vote to be given the chance even without any form of identification.
He maintained that the PPRC rejected the Big Six call as it is not in the Rules that were promulgated and also it is not in the existing Constitution of the APC, adding that it contravenes the Party’s Constitution will lead to litigation, which was why the PPRC asked the ITGC to shift the elections date and extend the registration period as the best option.
Hon Kargbo said during the registration process they will have Officials at the various Constituencies with specific number of cards to be issued for the lower level elections. The registration process will commence today Thursday 15th December 2022 he disclosed due to lack of resources that stalled the process.
On the allegation of ongoing illegal registration at the residence of Med Kay, the ITGC Secretary stated that they have concluded their investigation and their findings are that there is no registration going on stating that the cards to be issued are different from the conventional cards of the party.
“Those cards are not at the disposal of anyone except the Committee of five as ordered by the Court, (who) will be solely handling those cards,” he maintained, reiterating that the Committee members will only release the cards after the commencement of the registration process.
All Ward elections will be on the 27th December, Constituency election will be held on 30th December, District elections will be on 3rd January, Regional elections 5th January, NUASS, Persons with disabilities and Veteran Congress will be on the 7th January, whiles the Women and National Young Congress will be on the 9th January, Diaspora elections will start on the 7th January and will be held concurrently with some other congress.
He maintained that hundreds of people have expressed their intentions to contest the various positions within their party, which according to him demonstrates the party’s chances of winning the 2023 general elections.
