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 FREETOWN (AFP) — Voter apathy gripped the by-elections in four
constituencies in Sierra Leone on Saturday as many polling stations
reported few people queuing up to cast their votes.
"We have not
seen the large turnout of voters as in the last election," said Sarah
Williams, who voted in an urban constituency in the capital Freetown
when the polling station opened at 7 a.m. Saturday.
In Port Loko,
125 kilometres (78 miles) north of the capital, Sinneh Kargbo said that
"every thing was a bit unplanned, and elections officials did not start
the procedure until two hours late."
Two incidents of
election-related violence have so far been reported which the
inspector-general of police, Brima Kamara, said were "being robustly
investigated."
They involved attacks on the son of the
presidential affairs minister and party agents of the small opposition
party, the People's Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC), both in Port
Loko.
A total of 12 candidates from the ruling All People's
Congress (APC), the opposition Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) and
the third largest party in parliament, the People's Movement for
Democratic Change (PMDC), in addition to one independent candidate are
contesting for three seats in the north and one seat in the urban
capital, elections officials said.
Four other political parties are not taking part citing lack of funds.
The
election is to replace lawmakers who won seats after last year's
elections but were later appointed as cabinet ministers by President
Ernest Koroma.
According to Miatta French of the National
Electoral Commission, "all those who were registered during the last
voter registration exercise and reside in the four constituencies are
eligible to vote."
Election officials said results were expected to be announced in about a week.
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