Humama Kargbo, a resident of Dwazark Community and a delegate member of APC Constituency 109 ward executive election, said before the primaries on Saturday the party invited them to be prepared to vote for constituency and ward executives they would want to represent them on party issues.
‘We honoured the invitation, but upon arrival the top party members, including the Mayor of Freetown Municipality, Bode Gibson went on to handpick members without our consent and approval’, she said.
‘We had had someone in mind to serve us as constituency Chairman’, Madam Kargbo said, but they were disappointed.
The ward election or selection process has brought about mixed feelings in the minds of the party’s grassroots members, as the concerns are not only prevalent in the Dwazark Community, but also other areas in the East End of Freetown.
Lovell Ishmael Foday Dumbuya is a youth residing at Fullah Town in the East End of Freetown. He said the actions of the party to select a Constituency Youth Leader who dances only to his own tune was never in their favor, noting that such actions has the potentials of hindering the party’s chances of winning the upcoming elections.
Dumbuya furthered that such actions by the party might leave them with no option, but to renege from working with the members they continue to select as their constituency and ward leaders.
‘We were asked to meet at 2:00pm prompt for the election of our constituency and ward members’, Dumbuya furthered, stating disappointingly the elders of the party conducted a selection exercise even before the stipulated time.
The Constitution of the APC Party makes for either election or selection, but many believe this practice is a mere mockery of democracy.