The credibility of Sierra Leone’s 2023 general elections continues to come under the spotlight as the National Election Watch (NEW), through its Coordinator, Reverend James Lahai, has dropped a political bombshell. Speaking with deep concern, Rev. Lahai stated that no political party can rightfully claim to have won the 2023 elections due to the glaring irregularities, lack of transparency, and the unprecedented restrictions placed on both domestic and international observers.
According to him, the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) failed to uphold the long-standing tradition of opening the tallying process to independent scrutiny. For the first time in the country’s electoral history, observers were denied access to view tally results, creating doubts about the integrity of the final outcome. He emphasized that this move by ECSL fundamentally undermined public trust and democracy.
Rev. Lahai further noted that NEW’s parallel vote tabulation (PVT) raised significant red flags that were never adequately addressed by the Commission. He stressed that the will of the people appeared to have been compromised, and the results announced could not be considered a true reflection of the votes cast.
This revelation has reignited national debates, with many citizens, political stakeholders, and civil society groups calling for a deeper examination of the 2023 process. For them, Rev. Lahai’s words represent not just a warning but also a demand for accountability and electoral reforms before the 2028 polls.
The statement from NEW adds to growing public suspicion that the 2023 elections were far from free, fair, and credible. Political commentators have since argued that if Sierra Leone is to safeguard its democracy, urgent reforms must be undertaken to prevent a repeat of such controversies in the future.
In the words of Rev. Lahai, “Until the truth of 2023 is fully confronted, the nation risks walking into 2028 with the same mistrust that has already shaken the foundations of our democracy.”
