Jonathan, Osinbajo Track Sierra Leone Polls

Former Nigerian president, Goodluck Jonathan and the immediate past vice-president, Yemi Osinbajo, are currently in Sierra Leone for the on-going general elections in the West African country.

The two former Nigerian leaders are leading other electoral observers.

While Mr Jonathan is leading the West African Elders Forum 2023 Election Mission to Sierra Leone, Prof. Osinbajo chairs a 12-person Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) for the country’s elections.

The election is considered a straight contest between the president and candidate of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), Julius Bio and Samura Kamara, the flagbearer of the All Peoples Congress (APC).Other presidential candidates in the election are Bah Mohamed Chernoh of the National Democratic Alliance; Coker Prince, Peoples Democratic Party; Jonjo Mohamed, Citizens Democratic Party; Kabuta Henry, United National Peoples Party; and Kakay Iye, Alliance Democratic Party.Also on the ballot are Kamara Musa, Peace and Liberation Party; Margai Francis, Peoples Movement For Democratic Change; Saccoh Dougakoro, Revolutionary United Front Party; Sandy Patrick, National Unity and Reconciliation Party; Sowa-Turay Mohamed, United Democratic Movement; and Williams Victor, Republic National Independent Party.

The current exercise is Sierra Leone’s fifth election since the end of the nation’s civil war, 21 years ago.Voters are to choose a president as well as representatives to the parliament and local councils.

If no presidential candidate secures 55 per cent of valid votes cast in the first ballot, the top two candidates will slug it out in a run-off two weeks after the announcement of the first-round result, according to the country’s electoral provisions.

On Saturday, PREMIUM TIMES observed that Mr Osinbajo was monitoring polling units across the city centre in Freetown, the nation’s capital.