POLITICS Poor Turnout in Sierra Leone By-Elections: Polling Stations Posted by on Mar 30, 2008, 01:30

Voter apathy gripped the by-elections in four constituencies in Sierra Leone last 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.