President Bio Wins Sierra Leone Election, Avoids Runoff
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone – The Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL) has declared incumbent President Julius Maada Bio of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), as the winner of the 2023 presidential elections.
In announcing the results in the Capital Freetown, the head of the ECSL, Mohamed Konneh said President Bio polled a total vote of 1,566,932 representing 56.17% to defeat his closest rival and the presidential candidate of the All People’s Congress, Dr. Samura Kamara who scored 1,148,262 representing 41.16% votes.
At 56.17%, President Bio went above the threshold of 55% needed to avoid a runoff.
Konneh said the accredited voters for the election was 2,800,691 representing 83% of registered voters.
He put the total valid votes at 2,789,808, while total rejected votes were 10,883.
He declared: “Therefore by the power vested in me, as the national returning officer by Section 57, 51 (2) and 92 (4) of the Public Election Act 2022 and pursuant to Section 42 (2e) of the constitution of Sierra Leone 199, Act No 6 of 1991, I hereby certified that Bio, Julius Maada, having pulled 1,566,932 of the valid votes cast, representing 56.17% of the total valid cast, in the 24th June 2023 presidential elections, duly elected president of the Republic of Sierra Leone.”
In his acceptance speech, President Bio, 59 thanked the people of Sierra Leone for entrusting him and his team to lead for another five-year term.
He said his re-election demonstrates that his administration made significant strides despite the major challenges it encountered.
Kamara, 72, said that he “categorically” rejected the results. “It is a sad day for our beloved country. It is a frontal attack on our fledgling democracy,” he posted on Twitter.
“These results are NOT credible and I categorically reject the outcome so announced by the electoral commission,” he wrote on his Twitter account.
Writing on Twitter, Dr. Kamara, 72 said: “My compatriots. We have heard the unfortunate announcement of the elections results for the June 24 Presidential elections by the Chief Electoral Commissioner Mr Konneh. It is a sad day for our beloved country. It is a frontal attack on our fledgling democracy.”
“These results are NOT credible and I categorically reject the outcome so announced by the electoral commission. Meanwhile l thank each and everyone of you for your trust and confidence and for standing by me. I acknowledge the efforts of our local and international partners who stood for transparency and democracy. I will rise above this travesty and I commit myself to continue the fight for a better Sierra Leone.”
