The recent actions of the civil society group known as NEW (National Elections Watch) have raised serious concerns about their credibility and motives surrounding the Presidential elections conducted by the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) on June 24, 2023. NEW, largely funded by the European Union (EU), has been publishing flawed data from their Process and Result Verification for Transparency (PRVT), which seems to be a deliberate attempt to undermine the credibility of the ECSL and the integrity of the electoral processes.
The EU Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Manuel Muller, has faced accusations of supporting a regime change in Sierra Leone, although he has vehemently denied these claims. However, his conduct during the recently concluded Presidential elections has raised suspicions about his involvement in using NEW and its representative, Marcella Samba-Sesay, as a front for his alleged nefarious plan.
Furthermore, it has come to light that some members and affiliates of NEW have strong affiliations with the opposition All People's Congress (APC) party. Notably, Mohamed Kholifa Koroma and Macksood Gibril Sesay, who are associated with NEW, are known members and supporters of the APC party. Such affiliations raise concerns about the impartiality and independence of NEW's actions.
Several key concerns have been raised regarding the recent press release issued by NEW. Firstly, NEW has failed to share its PRVT methodology and results with the public and all election stakeholders, including the ECSL. The lack of transparency and secrecy surrounding NEW's methodology raises doubts about the validity of their data and the conclusions they have drawn. Genuine support for the election would have necessitated public scrutiny of their PRVT methodology.
Secondly, the secrecy around NEW's methodology and data opens up the possibility of deliberate data selection bias to achieve their preferred outcome. It is suspected that NEW may have selectively chosen polling stations from certain regions or districts to skew their conclusions, instead of providing an accurate representation of the total votes cast. Such bias in sample selection is highly concerning, especially in the current polarizing context of Sierra Leone's elections.
It is strongly advised that the public and all election stakeholders disregard NEW's press release due to its flawed data and questionable motives. An example of the flawed nature of their data is evident in their claim of using 750 polling stations with a margin of error of +-1.7% to conclude that no candidate will reach the constitutional threshold of 55% of votes cast in the first round. However, selecting 750 polling stations out of the ECSL's total of 13,360 would result in a margin of error of 3.45%, not the falsely claimed 1.7%. Moreover, to achieve a 1.7% margin of error, NEW's PRVT should have covered 2,662 polling stations, which they failed to do. The lack of disclosure of their data further undermines the transparency and accountability of NEW's claims.
It is unfortunate that NEW has attempted to undermine the credibility of the electoral process by declaring election results, which is beyond the mandate of an election observer group. Their use of skewed or flawed data to serve their own interests is deeply concerning. NEW and all election observers are reminded that making fictitious statements about Sierra Leone's election results without publicly sharing their data and methodology is not only mischievous but also a calculated attempt to fuel election denial, undermine peace and democracy, and potentially plunge the country into chaos.
It is crucial for all stakeholders involved in the electoral process to prioritize transparency, accountability, and the integrity of the democratic process. Sierra Leone's citizens deserve a fair and credible election, and any actions that undermine these principles should be thoroughly scrutinized and addressed to protect the democratic fabric of the nation.