Sierra Leone’s ruling party, the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), has emerged victorious in a highly contested parliamentary election, securing 60% of the seats, according to the country’s election commission.
The results were announced on Saturday, along with the news that President Julius Maada Bio had also won a second term in office.
The SLPP secured a total of 81 seats, while the main opposition party, the All People’s Congress (APC), won 54 seats, as reported by the commission’s chairman, Mohamed Kenewui Konneh.
One notable outcome was the SLPP’s significant gains in the diamond-rich district of Kono, where they secured seven out of the ten seats, overturning their previous absence in the region.
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The ruling party also made headway in the opposition strongholds of the north and west, particularly in the capital city of Freetown.
However, the APC, which had previously expressed dissatisfaction with the election results, maintained control over the crucial mayorship of Freetown, obtaining 51.3% of the vote.
In response to what they described as “glaring irregularities,” the APC declared its refusal to participate in any form of governance due to the alleged election misconduct.
As Sierra Leone prepares for the new parliamentary term and the continuation of President Bio’s administration, the nation faces the challenge of bridging political divides and addressing the concerns raised by the opposition party regarding the electoral process.
