February 23, 2021
NEC Chairperson, Mohamed K. Konneh
The Director of Media and Communications of the National Electoral Commission (NEC), Philip F. Kargbo has assured electorates in Kailahun of free, fair and non-violence election.
His comment came following the political violence and tension that arose between supporters of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and an Independence candidate that led to the death of one person in Constituency 010 in Kailahun District.
The three candidates contesting the bye-elections in Constituency 010 include John Allieu of the main opposition All People’s Congress, Zainab Kama Braima of the SLPP, and an Independent Candidate, Ibrahim Sylvester Jusu Hengela. The Parliamentary bye-election is schedule for February 27, 2021.
Sierra Leone Telegraph: 22 February 2021:
There are allegations of the beating and stabbing of a young man in the Penguia Chiefdom in Kailahun last week by SLPP supporters, ahead of the hotly contested Constituency 010 bye-election in Kailahun.
According to sources, the SLPP candidate took campaigners and police officers to Penguia Chiefdom on the day the incident happened. It is alleged that the young man’s legs were also broken by thugs.
The independent candidate contesting the election – Ibrahim Sylvester Jusu Hengela, is said to be a young student from Njala University, who defected from the SLPP after the constituency’s preferred candidate was rejected by the party.