The Zamfara State Government on Tuesday said there were no plans to dialogue or negotiate with terrorists or any other criminal group but would wage war against them until they were eliminated from the state.

The Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Nakwada stated this while addressing journalists about the activities of the present administration of Governor Dauda Lawal and that of his immediate predecessor, Bello Matawalle.

Matawalle’s government had initiated a peace dialogue with the bandits which was later stopped in September 2021 due to persistent bandit attacks on rural communities in the state.

Nakwada however stated that the current administration had no plan to initiate any reconciliation efforts or have discussions with the terrorists.

Rather, the SSG said the mission of Lawal’s government is to go after the such criminals wherever they may be hiding to flush them out of the state and restore order and peace.

He expressed the administration’s commitment to ensuring accurate record-keeping, transparency and accountability in governance.

Nakwada warned that any public official who falls short of these ideals in the discharge of his or her duty would face the consequences.

Meanwhile, the SSG has revealed that the state government is in talks with the National Examination Council (NECO) to resolve the three years backlog of unpaid examination fees by the past administration.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led government accused the immediate past administration of expending N17.5 billion for the construction of the International Cargo Airport, saying nothing meaningful was done on the project.

The state government also announced the immediate suspension of all permanent secretaries that were appointed after the 2023 general elections, as well as all newly created districts and village heads appointed from December 2022 to May 2023.

It also revoked all landed properties in some areas in Gusau that were considered not to have been done in the interest of the public.

Nakwada also assured workers and pensioners that the state government under the leadership of Governor Lawal planned to pay salaries for June and pension allowances this Tuesday to enhance their welfare and quality of life.

[Channels Tv]

Former President Muhammadu Buhari has described the leadership of Nigeria as one of the hardest challenges in life.

He said this in his Eid-el-Kabir message to Nigerians.

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Buhari handed over power to President Bola Tinubu on May 29, 2023, and withdrew into private life afterwards.

In the statement, which Mallam Garba Shehu, former presidential spokesman, issued on Tuesday, Buhari appealed to Nigerians to rally round his successor.

“Leading a country like Nigeria is one of the hardest challenges in life and urged Nigerians to fully support the Tinubu Administration to succeed and that leadership is a challenging task that demands the sacrifices and support of the citizens.”

Buhari said this 24 hours after he claimed that Tinubu would have lost if he removed fuel subsidy.

In a statement on Monday, Buhari defended his action, saying he did not toe that path in order to avoid the All Progressives Congress (APC) losing the February 25 election.

Shehu said there were multiple subsidies that the Buhari administration inherited in 2015, but they were gone before he handed over power.

“Why did it take the new Tinubu/ Shettima presidency weeks to remove the petrol subsidy when Buhari didn’t do so for years fails to ask the right question. The massive electricity subsidy. The fraudulent fertilizer subsidy. Hajj/Christian Pilgrim subsidies. Remember them?”

“The diesel subsidy. The aviation fuel subsidy. LPFO. Kerosene. Cooking gas and the other subsidy policies we found in place, and put them firmly on the ground. Remember them?

“For those with short memories, many of those subsides were all in place when president Buhari was elected to office in 2015: all those in place were gone by May 2023 – including the annual fertilizer subsidy that weighed 60-100 billion Naira (that’s trillion naira in about 10 years – yes you read that right) heavy on the federal budget each year.

“So no, Buhari didn’t remove the petrol subsidy – but in vitally important stages he removed every other budget-busting, egregious, economic-growth-crushing subsidy along the way.

“So far I have refrained from answering these repeated questions on the removal in Nigeria of subsidies on Premium Motor Spirit, PMS and that arising from the dual rates of the Naira in the Central Bank and the parallel market: Why did Buhari “fail” to do these?

“First of all, my thinking is that instead of the former President answering this question, it is the Party, the All Progressives Congress, APC that is best suited to speak and failing to do this, we are forced to say what will follow here.

“Secondly, we are mindful of the fact that with a Tinubu/Shettima presidency now in place and for which there is a “New Sheriff in Town.”

“We do not want to distract them from the onerous tasks facing them and the nation. Neither is it our wish to take the spotlight away from them in any way.

“In terms of the timings of the decisions to remove fuel subsidy and unify the currency, the Tinubu/Shettima administration has done overwhelmingly well. Even more importantly, they have been most dexterous in managing the aftermath of the decisions by successfully avoiding any crisis.

“To this extent, our wish and prayers are that fellow countrymen will continue to support the new leadership in these very laudable decisions and, in particular, for the Labour leadership and civil society to work with them to ensure that the palliative efforts as promised are successfully implemented.

“The decision to remove subsidies, as in our case – and we believe in all situations – was not for the President to take all by himself.

The Bayelsa State Council of the Nigeria Union Of Teachers (NUT), has threatened to embark on strike and shut down schools across the eight local government councils of the state if the N30,000 minimum wage is not implemented for primary school teachers.

The teachers’ body in a statement on Tuesday signed by Comrade Clinton Ikiba; Chairman NUT Yenagoa, Ekereke Aruaman; Chairman NUT Ogbia, Okada Imomotimi; Chairman NUT Sagbama, Dokubo Innocent; Chairman NUT Brass, Amakiri Idubie; Chairman NUT Nembe, Ebikabina Taribina; Chairman NUT Kolokuma Okpukuma, Koko Opuro Michael; Chairman NUT Ekeremor; and Sudowei Stephen Solomon, Chairman NUT Southern Ijaw, expressed displeasure over the inability of the state and local government councils to implement the N30,000 minimum wage for primary school teachers in the state.

The union said the ugly trend has brought a lot of setbacks and untold hardship to primary school teachers in the state, as other workers have been receiving the N30,000 minimum wage since three years ago, while that of primary school teachers is yet to be implemented.

According to them, for the crucial role of teachers, their welfare should not be compromised or sacrificed on the altar of neglect and abandonment, because teachers are the determinant of development in society.

The union called on the state government to take proactive and serious measures against the unacceptable injustice meted on teachers and restore them to their statutory salary steps to curtail more problems in the system.

They appealed to the state government to implement the harmonize upward review of the retirement age of primary and secondary school teachers from 60 to 65 years and service, from 35 to 40 years as already implemented by the federal and some states in the federation.

The union equally appeal to the state government for the upward review of headmasters’ imprest, pointing out the enormous responsibilities in the schools, especially as the Bayelsa PRIME has taken over the school system.

They also solicited the employment of more teachers in both primary and secondary schools in the state to address the issue of inadequate classroom teachers for effective teaching and learning in the schools.

The Commander of the Amotekun Corps in Ogun State, David Akinremi is dead.

Akinremi, a retired Commissioner of Police, was said to have died on Monday evening.

It was gathered that Akinremi had been nursing an undisclosed ailment for quite some time until he breathed his last on Monday.

Akinremi was in 2021 appointed by Governor Dapo Abiodun as the pioneer Commander of the newly established Amotekun Corps.

The Amotekun Corps under his watch, worked with other security agents in their attempts to rid the State of crimes.

Confirming Akinremi’s death, the Commander of the So-Safe Corps, Soji Ganzallo, described Akinremi’s death as a rude shock.

Dr. Okanta Emefiele, the younger brother of the embattled governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, has told the Federal Capital Territory High Court that the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Department of State Services, DSS, are witch-hunting his brother because of his “people-oriented financial policies” which several political actors are not comfortable with and are now looking for means to scandalize and smear his image and reputation.

Okanta, who warned that his brother may die in custody if not granted bail, made the allegation in his affidavit in support of the fundamental rights application filed by Emefiele’s lead counsel, J.B. Daudu SAN.

Among other prayers sought, Daudu had asked the court to restrain the DSS from further detaining his client under the guise of investigating him for terrorism financing, fraudulent activities, thereby interfering with his right to freedom of movement, personal liberty, and human dignity.

In his affidavit before the court , Okanta stated he has the consent and authority of his elder brother to depose the statement on his behalf since he was still being detained at the DSS facility.

Buttressing his allegations of a political witch-hunt by AGF and DSS, Okanta said the respondents have allegedly been applying to various courts with a view to obtaining favourable orders so as to help legalize the illegality certain unnamed politicians have finetuned against him.

“That Mr. Emefiele who served Nigeria meritoriously and brought laudable financial and monetary policies, as approved by the former president of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, is now being treated like a common criminal, kept in an inhuman condition, denied food, his medications, and his spouse; family members, doctors, and lawyers, are not allowed access to him.

“I know as a fact that this policy is a serious blow to several politicians and a clog in electoral fraud in Nigeria as several dishonorable politicians set out plans to rig the 2023 General Elections through vote buying and electoral fraud, while insecurity is on the rise.

“That I know as a fact that one of such plots by these politicians includes to frame the applicant on unfounded allegations of terrorism financing, fraudulent practices as well as allegations of plots to cover up N89 Trillion stamp duty fraud, which the former administration of President Buhari had personally debunked as been untrue, unfounded and unmeritorious in all regards,” he stated.

He further alleged that these mindless and faceless politicians planned to use the instrumentality of the judicial process to intimidate, harass and oppress and force him out of office in order to continue in the “old pattern of electoral fraud and vote buying.”

He further contended that the detention of Emefiele remains illegal because it has already been determined with finality by Justice M.A. Hassan of the same court of coordinate jurisdiction in a matter between the Incorporated Trustees of Forum For Accountability and Good Leadership versus President, Federal Republic of Nigeria(Suit No: FCT/HC/GAR/CV/41/2022).

Okanta urged the court to order the release of the embattled CBN governor, adding that if the court fails to intervene, he “would be subjected to considerable physical and psychological torture, which may lead to his death, incapacitation or aggravation of his ill-health for no just cause.”

While the court has fixed July 13 for ruling on the application, THE WHISTLER reports that the AGF and DSS had raised preliminary objections to Emefiele’s applications and affidavit.

In a counter affidavit filed by its counsel, I. Awo, the DSS denied the allegation of political witch-hunt, maintaining that it remains apolitical and does not act in the interest of any political group or persons.

“The applicant was arrested upon reasonable suspicion of committing acts which constitute a criminal breach of trust, incitement to violence, criminal misappropriation of public funds, economic sabotage, economic crimes of national security dimensions, and undermining the security of Nigeria;” he said.

Awo further contended that upon the arrest of the applicant, a detention order was obtained from a court of competent jurisdiction to enable the agency to keep him in lawful custody for 14 days having discovered that investigations into his office will take a little while to conclude.

For the AGF, its legal team urged the court to decline jurisdiction on Emefiele’s request for release following investigations into his office.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu had on June 9 suspended the CBN governor from office, to enable investigation into allegations against him.

The CBN Deputy Governor in charge of Operations, Folashodun Adebisi Shonubi, was subsequently directed by the president to step in an acting capacity.

…Urges FG to mitigate Nigerians’ suffering

The World Bank has tasked the administration of President Bola Tinubu to rebuild Nigeria’s fiscal space, following the removal of petrol subsidy and the unification of the Foreign Exchange (FX)rates.

The bank’s position was contained in its latest Nigeria Development Update (NDU), released, yesterday.

The removal of the petrol subsidy and foreign exchange (FX) management reforms, according to the report, were crucial measures to begin to rebuild fiscal space and restore macroeconomic stability, and the opportunity should be seized to take further, necessary policy reform steps.

It noted that the new administration had initiated critical reforms to address macroeconomic imbalances.

Specifically, the organisation said that the president should seize the window of opportunity for a transformative impact on the lives of millions of Nigerians and establish a solid foundation for sustainable and inclusive growth.

The June 2023 edition of the NDU, titled “Seizing the Opportunity”, added that it was critical to implement a comprehensive reform package encompassing a range of complementary measures, including a new social compact to protect the poor and most vulnerable, to maximize the collective impact on growth, job creation, and poverty reduction.

The report showed that in the first part of 2023, Nigeria’s economic growth weakened, as real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth fell from 3.3% in 2022 to 2.4% year-on-year (y-o-y) in Q1 2023.

It added, “The challenging global economic context has put pressure on Nigeria’s economy.

” However, domestic policies play a major role in determining Nigeria’s economic performance and resilience to further external shocks.

“The previous mix of fiscal, monetary, and exchange rate policies, including the naira redesign program, did not deliver the desired improvements in growth, inflation, and economic resilience.

“The new government has recognized the need to chart a new course and has already made a start on critical reforms, such as the elimination of the petrol subsidy and reforms in the FX market.

“With the petrol subsidy removal, the government is projected to achieve fiscal savings of approximately 2 trillion naira in 2023, equivalent to 0.9% of GDP. These savings are expected to reach over 11 trillion naira by the end of 2025.

“However, compensating transfers will be essential to help shield the most vulnerable Nigerian households from the initial price impacts of the subsidy reform, as without compensation, many households could be pushed into poverty by higher petrol prices and have to resort to coping mechanisms with long-term adverse consequences.

” Similarly, the move to harmonize the FX windows will help to improve the efficiency of the FX market, unlock private investment, and reduce inflationary pressures, but it is crucial to complete this important reform by removing FX restrictions, clearly communicating how the new FX regime will operate, and implementing supportive monetary and fiscal policies.”

The report recommended specific, critical measures to build on the new government’s bold start in making critical reforms, to ensure that Nigeria rose to its full potential.

These included: restoring macroeconomic stability by increasing non-oil revenue, reducing inflation through a sequenced and coordinated mix of trade, monetary and fiscal policies, and completing the FX reform; expanding social protection to protect the poor and most vulnerable; and developing and communicating how, as fiscal space recovers, resources will be redirected.”

In his remarks, Shubham Chaudhuri, World Bank Country Director for Nigeria also said, “The current move by the Government to implement long-anticipated reforms such as the removal of costly and opaque petrol subsidy, and efforts to harmonize the multiple FX windows, are timely and crucial to set Nigeria on the path of economic growth.

“These reforms should be accompanied by compensatory actions to mitigate the short-term impact on the poor,” said.

“Nigeria should now seize the opportunity to implement a robust, large-scale cash transfer program to provide quick relief to the poor, near poor, as well as low-income households which are most directly affected by higher petrol prices, as part of a broader compact to redirect scarce fiscal resources towards development priorities”.

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP,  Peter Obi has reacted to recent demolition of some buildings by government, saying the Nigerian citizens should not be subjected to the additional stress of unexpected hardship. 

Obi stated this in a statement via his verified Twitter handle on Tuesday.

According to him, although some of the demolitions might be excusable, they had left many victims, mostly ordinary people, who are either innocently ill-informed or misguided.

Obi said the primary duty of any government is to care for and protect its citizens.

The former Anambra State governor advised that “necessary corrective measures to planning or zoning violations by governments, need not be punitive or unduly insensitive.”

He stated, “In Nigeria, we live in a time of extreme difficulties for citizens because of stagnated income, spiralling inflation, huge unemployment escalating socio-economic costs and high costs of living.

“Nigerian citizens should therefore, not be subjected to the additional stress of unexpected hardship. Moreover, the various concerned governments should consider paying compensation to those who have lost properties and livelihoods in these unfortunate demolitions to ameliorate their suffering.

Such compensation should fall under the rubric of eminent domain that is applicable for properties and assets acquired or demolished in the public interest.

“It cannot ever be overemphasized that the primary duty of any government is the responsibility to care for and protect her citizens.”

Recall that the Lagos Government had on June 16 begun the removal of what it described as distressed buildings in the Alaba International Market located in the Ojo Local Government Area of the state.

The enforcement team of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA and the Lagos State Task Force embarked on the joint exercise.

Following the controversy that trailed the exercise, the government insisted that the exercise was a measure to prevent disaster.

However, Obi maintained that Nigerian citizens should not be subjected to the additional stress of unexpected hardship.

The statement reads, “Recently, there have been reports of widespread government demolition of so-called ‘illegal’ structures erected by some innocent Nigerian citizens in error. 

“We face a paradox: with a 70 million housing deficit and vast unmet housing needs nationwide, some resort to self-help by building structures that serve as homes, businesses, SMEs offices and stores.

“Invariably, some of these structures were either not approved or were built with the tacit collusion or approval of the local authorities.

“While some of these ongoing demolitions may be excusable, they have nonetheless, left many victims, mostly ordinary people who erred innocently or were ill-informed or misguided. Necessary corrective measures to planning or zoning violations by governments need not be punitive or unduly insensitive.

“There should always be room for compassion and humane correction in taking any remedial action. I respectfully appeal to various governmental authorities to marry the need to enforce compliance with extant regulatory regimes, with consideration for human feelings and necessary compassion.”

[Vanguard]

The candidate of the Labour Party in the February 25 presidential election, Peter Obi, has condemned the widespread demolition of “so-called ‘illegal’ structures erected by some innocent Nigerian citizens in error”.

Recall that some state Governors, particularly Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano state, had commenced a demolition spree of structures approved by the past administration.

However, Obi in a post on his verified Twitter handle on Tuesday said it was counterproductive to demolish structures that serve as homes, businesses, SMEs offices and stores despite Nigeria’s 70 million housing deficit.

The LP candidate who noted that some demolitions may be excusable urged governments across the country to sensitive to the plight of ordinary Nigerians.

He appealed to regulatory governmental authorities to combine the need to enforce compliance with consideration for human feelings and necessary compassion amid the huge unemployment, inflation and high costs of living that Nigerians are currently facing.

The LP candidate also called for the prompt payment of adequate compensation to victims of demolition

He said, “Recently, there have been reports of widespread government demolition of so-called ‘illegal’ structures erected by some innocent Nigerian citizens in error.

“We face a paradox: with a 70 million housing deficit and vast unmet housing needs nationwide some resort to self-help of building structures that serve as homes, businesses, SMEs offices and stores. Invariably, some of these structures were either not approved or were built with the tacit collusion or approval of the local authorities.

“While some of these ongoing demolitions may be excusable, they have nonetheless, left many victims, mostly ordinary people who erred innocently or were ill-informed or misguided. Necessary corrective measures to planning or zoning violations by governments, need not be punitive or unduly insensitive. There should always be room for compassion and humane correction in taking any remedial action.

“I respectfully appeal to various governmental authorities to marry the need to enforce compliance with extant regulatory regimes, with consideration for human feelings and necessary compassion. In Nigeria, we live in a time of extreme difficulties for citizens because of stagnated income, spiraling inflation, huge unemployment escalating socio-economic costs and high costs of living.

“Nigerian citizens should therefore, not be subjected to the additional stress of unexpected hardship. Moreover, the various concerned governments should consider paying compensation to those who have lost properties and livelihood in these unfortunate demolitions to ameliorate their suffering. Such compensation should fall under the rubric of eminent domain that is applicable for properties and assets acquired or demolished in the public interest.

“It cannot ever be overemphasized that the primary duty of any government is the responsibility to care for and protect her citizens,” he added.

A witness, has told the Lagos State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal headed by Justice Arum Ashom, that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his wife, Ibijoke were allowed to cast their votes, despite their voter cards being invalid.

This testimony was given, on Monday, by an agent of the Labour Party, Dayo Isreal, who was subpoenaed to testify in the petition filed by Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the Labour Party’s candidate, in the March 18 election, seeking to nullify the return of Gov. SanwoOlu and his deputy.

While being led in evidence by the Rhodes-Vivour’s lead counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Olumide Ayeni, the witness told the court that he served as an agent for the Labour Party for Unit 006, Ward 15, Lagos Island Local Government in the Governorship Election.

”I observed that the card reader showed their cards to be invalid but Sanwo-Olu and his wife were allowed to cast their votes and this is against INEC’s electoral process,” Israel said before the tribunal.

Under cross-examination from counsel to INEC, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Charles Edosomwan, the witness also claimed he was beaten up that day by some All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters and that he knew they were APC supporters from the way they spoke.

“I am not a member of the Labour Party but I was assigned as an agent. When the APC thugs recognised me as an LP agent, they beat me up. They also said if voters did not vote for APC, they would beat them too,” he said.

When asked by counsel to Governor Sanwo Olu Olu and his deputy, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Muiz Banire, to describe how he was beaten.

He added, “During casting of votes, 4 of them beat me up. I ran away, changed my clothes to disguise myself and came back to monitor the counting of votes.”

He also noted that there were cases of multiple casting of votes but INEC officials failed to intervene.

“I observed more than 3-4 people voting more than once at the polling unit. INEC staff conducted the elections, though they looked the other way when this was going on.”

While answering questions from counsel to APC, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Abiodun Owonikoko, the witness disclosed that a total number of 126 people were accredited at the polling unit where Governor Sanwo -Olu voted while APC had 121 votes, LP was given 2votes.

Another subpoenaed witness, the secretary of the Labour Party in Lagos State, Sam Okpala, also testified before the tribunal.

Led by counsel to the petitioner, Folagbade Benson, the subpoena was tendered to the tribunal through the witness, a situation which led to another round of objections from the respondents.

The tribunal in its ruling noted the objections of the respondents but proceeded to hear the testimony of the witness while ordering the respondents to include their objections in their final written addresses.

The witness, while being cross-examined by INEC’s counsel, said he would not have appeared before the tribunal if he was not subpoenaed, adding that he never wrote a statement.

Meanwhile, the tribunal has adjourned till July 3 for the continuation of the hearing in the petition.

1. On 24 June 2023, Sierra Leonean voters went to the polls to elect a President, Parliamentarians, Mayors or District Council Chairpersons, and Local Councilors.
2. Consistent with provisionsof Articles 12 and 13 of the ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, which mandates the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to provide assistance to member States conducting elections, the ECOWAS Commission:

• Deployed a pre-electoral fact-finding mission, jointly conducted with the African Union (AU);

• Provided capacity building for stakeholders on Dialogue and Mediation;

• Conducted training on media in Election Reporting;

• Had an engagement with the Chief Executives and Senior Editors of Media Houses on management of Election Reporting in partnership with the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL),

• Provided financial assistance to the tune of USD 500,000, in support of the conduct of the general elections.

3. The purpose of the Joint ECOWAS-African Union pre-electoral fact-finding Mission was to assess the state of preparedness of the election management body and other critical stakeholders. In particular, the Joint Mission held discussions with the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL), the Political Party Regulations Commission (PPRC), the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC), the Office of National Security (ONS), the Sierra Leone Police service, political parties, including the Sierra Leone. Peoples Party (SLPP) and All People's Congress (APC), and Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA), civil society organizations and representatives of Diplomatic Missions.

4. Based on its findings, the ECOWAS Commission deployed appropriate preventive diplomacy measures, including the facilitation of an interactive workshop on dialogue and mediation for political actors and stakeholders on peaceful elections, in partnership with the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC). The Commission equally organized training for targeted media professionals in both print and electronic, including social media in three regions, namely: Freetown, Bo and Port Loko. This was followed up with engagements with Chief Executives and Senior Editors of Media Houses on Election Reporting in partnership with the ECSL, with the aim of addressing the challenges of disinformation, misinformation and mal-information.

5. In the build up to the 24 June 2023 election, and in furtherance of provisions of Articles 14 to 16 of the Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, His Excellency Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, deployed an Election Observation Mission (EOM) comprising 15 Long-Term and 80 Short-Term observers to Sierra Leone. The mission is led by His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, AU Special Envoy on Silencing the Guns, former Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel and a former President of the ECOWAS Commission. The Head of Mission is assisted by His Excellency Ambassador Ansoumana Ceesay, former Special Representative of the ECOWAS President to Liberia and Guinea-Bissau. The Mission is supported by a technical team from the ECOWAS Commission, led by the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, and the Resident Representative of ECOWAS in Sierra Leone, Ambassador Harouna Moussa.

6. The ECOWAS EOM is deployed with a mandate to observe the conduct of critical phases before, during and after electoral process, with a view to making critical recommendations for the improvement of the electoral process in the future. The EOM also serves as a rapid response mechanism for preventive diplomacy initiatives on challenges around the electoral processes.

7. The membership of the EOM is drawn from the ECOWAS Parliament, Community Court of Justice, the ECOWAS Permanent Representatives Committee, the Council of the Wise, Foreign Affairs Ministries and Electoral Commissions of Member States, as well as Civil Society Organizations.

II. CONTEXT OF THE 2023 GENERAL ELECTIONS

8. The 2023 General elections are the fifth consecutive nationwide elections in Sierra Leone since the end of the civil war in 2002, and the second since the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone (UNIPSIL) completed its mandate in March 2014. It is also the second elections to be mainly funded and independently managed by the country. The country has also successfully navigated two transitions of power between a ruling political party and an opposition party, thus strengthening the country's credentials as a stable multi-party democracy in the West African region.

9. The 2023 General elections are taking place at a critical point in the political landscape of the region including lingering economic impacts of COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and three Member States suspended by ECOWAS over military take-over of democratic governments.

10. Following the passage of an amended Public Elections Act and the Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment Act in 2022, the legal framework for the conduct of the 2023 General elections introduced some innovations to the , (6- electoral process, most significantly the obligation for political parties to ensure that at least 30% of candidates for elective offices are women. This signals a commendable commitment to increase women's participation and representation in politics and governance.

11.Other novelties of the 2023 electoral reforms and process are the use of the Proportional Representation system for both the Parliamentary and Local Council elections. The ECOWAS Election Observation Mission, however, notes the general perception of trust deficits among stakeholders in the electoral process, especially with the introduction of the Proportional Representation system.

12.Using data obtained from the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA), the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) embarked on a voter registration exercise that involved verification of biometric data, for citizens already captured in the Civil Register, and the capturing of biometric data for eligible citizens who had not yet been captured in the Civil Register. At the end of the process in December 2022, the ECSL had registered three million, three hundred and seventy-four thousand, two hundred and fifty-eight (3,374,258) voters. The distribution of voters' cards was carried out between February and March 2023. However, there were complaints of some voters' cards having blurry pictures.

13.The election campaign period kicked off on 23 May 2023 and ran through to 22 June 2023. On 25 May 2023, all the Presidential candidates signed the Electoral Pledge, committing themselves, and their political parties, to upholding peace before, during and after the elections. The parties also agreed to use legal means to seek redress for any electoral disputes. The ECOWAS Mission notes that although campaign events were largely peaceful, there were some skirmishes between supporters of the two main political parties, the SLPP and  the APC. The use of social media platforms to spread hate speech, misinformation, and incite violence was prevalent. The Mission noted reports of attacks against the offices and homes of political party members and leaders in some parts of the country, including the Secretariat of the All Peoples' Congress (APC) in Bo and the home of one of its members in Kono, respectively.

14.The Mission notes the relative freedom the media enjoy, with both the print and electronic media landscape in Sierra Leone offering plural and diverse platforms for citizens to have access to relevant information on the electoral process.

15. On 15 June 2023, early voting was organized for registered voters traveling to Mecca for the Muslim pilgrimage. Although the aim was to ensure that eligible voters are not disenfranchised by virtue of observance of their religious obligations, the exercise was marred by controversy owing to insufficient communication by the ECSL and the source of the ballot papers used. It should be noted that the ballot papers for the 2023 General elections were printed in South Africa and arrived in Sierra Leone on 17 June 2023.

III. ENGAGEMENTS WITH STAKEHOLDERS
16.Upon arrival in Freetown on 20 June 2023, the Head of Mission and his delegation held consultations with relevant stakeholders on the electoral process, including with the President of the Republic and candidate of the SLPP, H.E. Maada Bio, the APC candidate, Dr. Samura Kamara and other presidential candidates and political parties taking part in the election.

17.The Mission equally held consultations with the Chairperson and Commissioners of the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL) and the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC), the Office of National Security (ONS), the Inspector General of Police and other critical stakeholders including Civil Society organizations and the National Early Warning and Response Mechanisms Coordination Centre (NEWRMC-SL). The pre-election meetings were to assess preparedness for the elections and concerns raised by some political parties and candidates. In particular, the ECSL assured the Mission of its readiness and commitment to conduct credible, free, fair and transparent elections in compliance with the electoral legal framework.

18.The Mission also held consultations with other Heads of International Election Observation Missions, including the African Union (AU), the Commonwealth, the European Union (EU), the Carter Center, the West Africa Elders Forum (WAEF), as well as the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel.

19. Following concerns raised by some stakeholders about violence and intimidation, alleged misuse of social media and modalities for the tallying and transmission of election results, the ECOWAS and AU Election Observation Missions issued a Joint Statement on 22 June 2023, calling on all stakeholders to be guided by the spirit of consensus building based on the rule of law and to adhere to the political parties' code of conduct. The Statement also urged the security forces to remain apolitical and professional in the discharge of their duties toward all citizens, cognizant of the rights of all under the Constitution of Sierra Leone. It further called on the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) to remain impartial in the execution of its mandate, in the greater interest of all Sierra Leoneans, and for citizens and civil society groups to continue the pursuit of initiatives aimed at promoting peaceful elections and national cohesion. 

IV. ELECTION DAY

20. On Election Day, the Mission deployed 95 observers, grouped into 39 observer teams, in 15 Districts. The observers visited 337 Polling stations spread across both urban (44%) and rural areas (56%), and reported the following:
Opening of the polls

21.In a significant number of Polling stations visited (57.14%), polling staff and materials did not arrive before the scheduled start time of 7:00 am. Notably, at Polling Centre 16059 at Apple School field in Wellington, Freetown, where ballot papers were not available. Polling staff explained that the ballot papers had been taken to another Polling Center at Gideon Secondary School. Simi-larly, at Polling Unit number 3 of Methodist High School in Bo, polling staff ar-rived well after the official commencement time of 7:00 am. In addition, a Poll-ing Centre at SOS International School at the Lumley Beach Road, election ma-terials did not arrive until after 8:45 am, and even when they arrived the ballot boxes did not have covers, causing delays in commencement of the polls. These delays caused frustrations among some voters, who got agitated.

22.In 37% of Polling stations observed, polling commenced within the first hour while in 63% of cases polling started with considerable delays due to the late arrival of polling staff and materials.

23. Polling Centres were however easily identifiable to voters.

24.The atmosphere at Polling stations was generally peaceful with security agents present in 92% of the stations visited.

25.0n average, there were about five (5) party and/or candidate agents present at the polling stations visited, with SLPP represented in 98% of Polling stations and APC represented in 94% of Polling stations.

26.There were domestic and international election observers from the African Union, European Union, National Elections Watch (NEW), Election Observers Network, Pentecostal Fellowship of Sierra Leone, and West Africa Democracy Solidarity Network.
Polling process

27.Almost 98% of Polling stations were set up in a way that guaranteed the secrecy of the vote. In few cases, however, such as at Polling station no. 4 of the Polling Centre located at Hockey Pitch 1 by football field pavilion in Wilber-force (Western Area Urban), the voting screen was placed such that it did not provide adequate cover for voters to secretly express their choice.

28.In general, voters were required to present their voter's card to cast their vote. Nonetheless, in 8% of Polling stations visited, observers witnessed voters being allowed to vote without their voter's card. Such voters either presented their voter registration slip or other forms of identity that tallied with the de-tails on the voters' register. There were also cases, notably at Sierra Leone Grammar School in Aberdeen (Western Area Urban), Administrative Court in Kambia, and Port Loko Catholic Primary School (North-West Region), where voters who had voter's cards could not find their names on the Voters' register and were thus not allowed to vote.

29.Voting materials were generally available in sufficient quantities. However, in 7% of Polling stations visited, there was one type of electoral material or the other that was not available, such as indelible ink, Reconciliation and Results. Forms (RRF), Gender Tally sheets, Tamper-evident envelopes (TEEs), and ink-pads.

30.1t is also instructive to note that most of the polling stations visited the polling agents and officials were not easily identifiable as they had no official attire, neither badges to identify them.

31.With respect to inclusion, 63% of Polling stations visited were accessible to Persons living with Disability (PWDs). Observers also reported that there were tactile ballot jackets in 33% of the Polling stations.

32.Observers did not witness any active campaigning around the Polling centres visited.

33.A notable incident occurred at the Polling Centre located at U.M.0 Primary School, Ropolor Road in Tonkolili, where the Ballot Paper Issuer 1 was only issuing ballot papers for the Legislative election and not the Presidential election. Chaos ensued at around 11:45 am when the APC District Youth leader came and noticed the situation. The ensuing chaos led to security agents in-tervening and stopping the process. Similarly, observers in Kono confirmed an attack on the APC Deputy Mayoral candidate, Mr. Sillah, by some youths in the

Closing and counting
34.Despite the delays experienced at the opening, 52% of Polling Stations visited closed on time. In the 13% of Polling stations where voters were still waiting to vote, they were allowed to do so.

35.Security agents were present at the close of polls in 97% of the Polling stations observed.

36.In 84% of Polling stations visited, the lighting conditions when vote-counting commenced were adequate but as the process proceeded they deteriorated significantly. Sorting and counting of ballot papers was done at the Polling stations and in clear view of party agents and observers.

37.Reconciliation and Results Forms (RRFs) were filled out at the Polling station and party agents allowed to endorse them.

V. PRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS

38.The mission notes that despite some early challenges, polling generally pro-ceeded smoothly and in a largely peaceful atmosphere, and eligible voters were able to freely participate in the process.

39. The mission commends the sense of patriotism exhibited by polling staff, the security forces, the general populace, who collectively played their parts in ensuring a peaceful conduct of the 2023 general elections.

40.The mission, however, expresses regret that major political parties pre-empted the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) by rushing to announce their "victory' in the polls before the official announcement by the ECSL.

41. The ECOWAS Election Observation Mission wishes to appeal to all stakeholders, particularly the political parties, candidates and their supporters, the security forces and the general citizenry to remain calm and patiently await the announcement of the results by the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone.

42.Similarly the Mission wishes to appeal to candidates and political parties to refrain from making any statements that may lead to a breach of the peace.

43.The Mission further urges the Electoral Commission to diligently, but urgently, work to ensure the timely release of the results to avoid any tensions.

44.The Mission reminds the candidates and the political parties of their commitment under the Election Pledge to use only lawful channels in addressing any disputes emerging out of the conduct of the 2023 general elections.

45.The Mission highly praises the patience and sense of patriotism so far exhibited by the vast majority of the electorate, and would wish to urge same display of high sense of maturity, whilst awaiting the official announcement of the results by the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone.
Done in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on 26 June 2023.

H.E. Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas

Head, ECOWAS Election Observation Mission