Observers Urge Transparent Sierra Leone Vote Tallying

Observers have asked Sierra Leone’s electoral commission to ensure more transparencyImage caption: Observers have asked Sierra Leone’s electoral commission to ensure more transparency
The Commonwealth Observer Group has said a “lack of clarity” on how Sierra Leone presidential election results are being tallied has led to charges of a lack of transparency.

It urged the electoral commission to ensure more transparency while announcing the remaining results.

With 60% of the polling stations tallied, the commission had said incumbent Julius Maada Bio was in the lead followed by his closest challenger Samura Kamara of the All People’s Congress (APC).

The chairman of the observer group, Yemi Osinbajo, said in a statement that the election has been “largely peaceful”. There were, however, reports of logistical challenges which caused delays on election day, he said.

“We were impressed by the significant turn-out of voters and the largely peaceful conduct of elections, a testimony to the will of the people to consolidate the democratic gains of Sierra Leone,” Mr Osinbajo said.

BBC/Jide Johnson.