Sierra Leone’s Opposition Opts Out of Governance

All results from Sierra Leone’s June 24 elections have been announced. The ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) has won the presidency and the majority in parliament (81 seats) against the opposition All Peoples Congress (APC) party with 54 seats. However, the APC has rejected the results and said it will not participate at any level of governance because it says the government tampered with the results to hand itself the majority. In a statement released over the weekend, the APC also called for a rerun of the elections within six months to be overseen by what the party calls “credible individuals and institutions.” It also called for the resignation of the electoral commission chair and heads of the police and army. Yvonne Aki-Sawyer, APC’s re-elected mayor of the capital, Freetown, tells Daybreak Africa host James Butty, the party wants the poll results to represent the will of the people.