The 48th sitting of the Sixth Parliament of Sierra Leone saw the election of Hon. Solomon Sengehpoh Thomas (SLPP party Bonthe District) as Speaker of Parliament and Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh (SLPP party Western Area) as Deputy Speaker. The election process commenced with the announcement of the retirement and reading of the letter of Hon. Dr. Chernor Abass Bundu, and the nomination of candidates from the SLPP and that of Hon. Daniel Koroma (Koinadugu District ) and Hon. Miatta Amara (Western Area Rural) as Speaker and Deputy Speaker nominees of the APC party.
During the election process, there were legal and procedural arguments regarding the announcement of the out-gone Speaker's resignation, the calculation and computation of two-thirds in light of the current composition of the House in terms of actual members that were present, and whether MPs with an absent excuse should be included in the count of two-thirds. After much debate, it was agreed that a two-third threshold should be 98 MPs based on the current composition of 147 excluding 2 deceased PCMPs.
The first three rounds of voting for Hon. Thomas garnered 93 ayes and 52 nays, 96 ayes and 49 nays, and 95 ayes and 50 nays, respectively. However, the inability of the House to have 98 ayes for Hon. Thomas ushered in the fourth round, which requires a simple majority. At this point, Hon. Thomas pulled 128 votes, 10 nays, and 6 abstentions, allowing him to be declared as the Speaker of Parliament.
Hon. Conteh was nominated for the Deputy Speaker position, and after voting by the MPs, he was declared the Deputy Speaker with 94 ayes, 47 nays, 0 void, and 4 MPs abstained.
In his acceptance speech, Hon. Thomas expressed his appreciation to President Maada Bio and all who supported his ascension to the Speaker's position. He also paid tribute to the excellence of the out-gone Speaker, Hon. Dr. Bundu, called on people not to judge him in haste, and encouraged everyone to engage with him to enable him to steer better parliamentary service.
Hon. Thomas and Hon. Conteh's election will have significant implications for the country's political landscape, and their leadership is expected to bring about a positive change in Sierra Leone's parliamentary service.Parliament Elects New Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
Members of Parliament on the 48th sitting of the Sixth Parliament of Sierra Leone elected Hon. Solomon Sengehpoh Thomas (SLPP party Bonthe District) as Speaker of Parliament and Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh (SLPP party Western Area) as Deputy Speaker.
The election commenced with the announcement of the retirement and reading of the letter of Hon. Dr. Chernor Abass Bundu, prompting the nomination of candidates from the SLPP and that of Hon. Daniel Koroma (Koinadugu District ) and Hon. Miatta Amara (Western Area Rural) as Speaker and Deputy Speaker nominees of the APC party.
There were legal and procedural arguments on whether the outgone Speaker’s resignation should have been announced by the State House or not but it was agreed that moving on, the Speaker should tender his resignation to Parliament as dictated in law.
Amidst the intellectual legal bantering between the Leader of the Government Hon. Mathew Nyuma and the Opposition Hon. Abdul Kargbo, which was interrupted by a sudden power outage evoking chants of provocation from the left side of the aisle.
Another issue that was lengthily argued by the Government and Opposition is that of the calculation and computation of two-thirds in light of the current composition of the House in terms of actual members that were present, as two MPs were absent, one of whom (SLPP) tendered an excuse and another without.
It was agreed after an argument on whether MPs with the absent excuse should be included in the count of two-thirds, and that based on the current composition of 147 excluding 2 deceased PCMPs, a two-third threshold should be 98 MPs, which sparked the start of what was to be four rounds of elections.
On the side of the SLPP, Hon. Mathew Nyuma nominated Hon. S.S.Thomas, which was seconded by Hon. Sidi Mohamed Tunis, and on the side of the APC, Hon. Abdul Kargbo nominated Hon. Daniel Koroma which was seconded by Hon. Catherine Zainab Tarawally.
In the first rounds of voting for the candidacy of Hon. Thomas, the result was 93 ayes and 52 nays. In round two, 96 ayes and 49 nays, and the final, 95 ayes and 50 nays.
The inability of the House to have 98 ayes for Hon. Thomas ushered the fourth round which dictates for a simple majority. At this point, there was an attempt by the APC Speaker candidate to withdraw his candidacy but the Legislative officers (MLD Rogers and team) on the objection of Hon.M. Nyuma insisted that the process be completed to give full legitimacy to the elections as stated in the Constitution of Sierra Leone and Standing Orders.
In the fourth round, Hon. Thomas pulled 128 votes 10 nays and 6 abstinence, allowing him to be declared to have pulled the highest vote and declared Speaker of Parliament.
Because Hon. Thomas had been sworn in when he first entered Parliament (2012) he was not sworn in again.
In his acceptance speech, Hon. Thomas appreciated President Maada Bio and all who supported his accent to the Speaker's position, paying tributes to the excellence of the outgone Speaker, Hon. Dr. Bundu. He encouraged everyone to engage with him for him to be able to steer better parliamentary service. He called on people not to judge him in haste.
In tandem with Standing Order 80, Hon. Saa Emerson Lamina nominated Hon. Tawa for the Deputy Speaker position, which was seconded by Hon. Dickson. M Rogers.
For the APC, Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara nominated Hon. Haja Miatta Amara.
At the polls, 94 MPs voted aye for Hon. Tawa, 47 against, 0 void, and 4 MPs abstained causing the election of Hon. Tawa as the Deputy Speaker.
