According to the chief electoral commissioner, Bio, secured 56 percent of Saturday’s vote.
His top rival Samura Kamara, of the All People’s Congress (APC), came second with 41 point percent. Kamara said that he “categorically” rejected the results. Posting on Twitter he said… “it is a sad day for our beloved country. It is a frontal attack on our fledgling democracy.”
The election commission’s announcement came after supporters of both parties had claimed to have won in recent days. European Union observers said that a lack of transparency and communication by the electoral authority had led to mistrust in the electoral process. The monitors said they witnessed violence at seven polling stations during voting hours and at three others during the closing and counting stages.
Bio addressed the nation after provisional results were released on Monday and called on citizens to remain peaceful. The June 24th vote was the fifth since the end of Sierra Leone’s civil war in 2002 and was held amid high unemployment and inflation, as well as threats of violence.
