Members of the North America branch of the SLPP, Sierra Leone’s leading opposition political party, are currently assembling in the city of angels, Los Angeles, for the party’s convention and the much anticipated election of a new executive.
But things are not as rosy and sweet as they seem. 12 leading members of this branch have threatened to boycott the whole proceedings if certain matters are not quickly resolved. Two major grievances are the constitution being used and chapter funds.
On the line from his Maryland base the current SLPP-NA Publicity Secretary Alpha Saidu Bangura told the Patriotic Vanguard yesterday that they advised SLPP-NA Chairman Augustine Fallay to postpone the election until the contentious issues are resolved.
"Even Freetown headquarters told him to postpone the election but he will not listen. So we are not attending the convention,’ Alpha Saidu said.
Reached by phone in Los Angeles, Fallay (top photo) said he did not refuse anybody’s request.
"What I told them and Freetown is that I will present the issue to all the delegates on Sunday and let them decide. I alone cannot decide on an issue like this. But remember, many people are already here and they have spent money on hotels and other things, so postponing anything is going to be problematic, but let the members decide," he explained.
SLPP-NA heavyweight lawyer Mohamed Sadu Bah is also in Los Angeles. He exploded in laughter when PV told him that there are rumours that the election, the highlight of the convention, might be postponed.
"Who said that? We are here, nothing is going to be postponed," he shouted in the midst of clinking glasses and loud laughter.
Alpha Saidu Bangura.
See below a letter from the aggrieved SLPP-NA members to Dr. Tugbawa, the SLPP-NA Electoral Commissioner:
The Chairman
Electoral Commission
SLPPNA
August 3rd 2010
Re: WITHDRAWAL FROM ELECTIONS
Dear Dr. Tugbawa
It has been almost four weeks since some of us have been consistently drawing your attention to the flawed and now discredited electoral process you have presented to the region. You have consistently ignored complaints from SLPPNA members who have been raising concerns about six fraudulently or improperly registered chapters by Chairman Fallay. In addition, Dr Tugbawa, few days to the elections, you are yet to publish the list of properly registered chapters as stipulated by the rules your commission presented us. Instead you gave us a tentative list of chapters which include the fraudulently registered chapters. On the contrary Dr Tugbawa you have promptly appeased and responded to all the issues put to you by Mr. Augustine Fallay while mostly ignoring the issues raised by Dr Christian Sam. The actions or the lack thereof by the electoral commission have led us to believe that we can no longer trust your impartiality in this process nor your will to say no to the intimidation thrown at you by MR. Fallay’s group.
WHICH CONSTITUTION
Dr Tugbawa, as you may be aware, it has come to the notice of all and sundry that SLPPNA has been operating on two separate constitutions since 2008. One of the constitutions was reserved for Mr. Fallay and Mr. Johnny while the other is shared with all of us. As per the documents made available, there is only one legal constitution as far as the state of California is concerned. Which constitution do you intend to use in conducting the elections. May we hasten to inform you that we have no intention of contesting and/or participating in an election conducted under the rubrics of a constitution that is not recognized by the state in which SLPPNA is registered? Unless that constitution is followed, the whole electoral exercise will be one of futility as the whole process will be unconstitutional because even some of the positions slated for the elections are not in the constitution.
For our own safety, we would like a clarification made between SLPP North America incorporated and the SLPP NA we belong to and a unified constitution agreed upon. Since all dues and contributions of the SLPP NA (the political party support branch) was made to accounts under SLPP NA Inc. ( the business entity) that such accounts be fully accessed by the elected financial secretary of SLPP NA who is taxed with the protection of the interest of the membership of SLPP NA. (Please note that the constitution used to register SLPP NA Inc. does not have the office of the Financial Secretary and we believe that this is what Syl Johnny had quoted in support of the deletion of the Financial Secretary’s access to the account Statements) We have asked for statements from ALL SLPP NA Accounts to ensure that the money from chapters registered by Chairman Fallay was not recycled from SLPPNA accounts.
We the undersigned are by way of this letter notifying you and the copied bodies that we will not be participating in the elections slated for August 8th if you chose to go on with it.
1. Dr. Christian Sam
CANDIDATE FOR CHAIRMAN
2. Mr. Foday Sesay
CANDIDATE VICE CHAIRMAN
3. Mr. Mahdi Kallon
CANDIDATE TREASURER
4. Mr. Musa Kamara
CANDIDATE ORGANIZING SECRETARY
5. Mr. Alpha Saidu Bangura
CANDIDATE PUBLICITY SECRETARY
6.Mr. Gbonda Sei
CANDIDATE FINANCIAL SECRETARY
7. Madam Mamie Isata Sowa
CANDIDATE WOMEN’S LEADER
8. Mr. Yera Kargbo
CANDIDATE WHIP
9. Mr. Fofie Baimba
CANDIDATE WHIP
10. Mr. Abdul Njai
CANDIDATE EXECUTIVE WITHOUT PORTFOLIO
11. Mr. Yusuf Deen
CANDIDATE ASSISTANT ORGANIZING SECRETARY
12. Paul A. J. Quee Nyagua
CANDIDATE FOR CHAIRMAN/ EXECUTIVE WITHOUT PORTFOLIO
Since travel and Convention arrangements have been made, we intend to utilize the Convention to make these rectifications and schedule a date and venue for free and fair elections.
Signed.
Dr. Christian Sam
Mr. Foday Sesay
Mr. Mahdi Kallon
Mr. Musa Kamara
Mr. Alpha Saidu Bangura
Mr. Gbonda Sei
Madam Mamie Isata Sowa
Mr. Yera Kargbo
Mr. Fofie Baimba
Mr. Abdul Njai
Mr. Yusuf Deen
Mr. Paul A. J. Quee Nyagua
Cc
SLPP National Executive Council (NEC)
Peace and Unity Committee
Chairman and Executive of SLPP Southern California Chapter
All Members of SLPP NA
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