By Sahrfoa Matturie
What was intended to be a routine APC election rerun in several wards in Makeni has been overshadowed by allegations of violence, vandalism, stone throwing, and the use of pepper spray, raising tensions among party supporters.
At the centre of the controversy is Makeni City Mayor Abubakarr Lamtales Kamara, who has strongly denied allegations by APC Bombali District Publicity Secretary Samuel I. Koroma (SIK) that he attacked Deputy Mayor Ibrahim Nelson Kamara and vandalised the Deputy Mayor’s vehicle during the rerun elections.
In a statement, the Mayor’s Office described the allegations as baseless and misleading, accusing those behind them of attempting to damage the Mayor’s reputation and create divisions within the party.
Speaking on Hope Radio, Mayor Kamara rejected the claims and argued that the account presented by the APC District Publicity Secretary did not accurately reflect what occurred during the election process.
According to the Mayor, he was present at UMC Ward 121 to help maintain order and ensure a peaceful electoral process. He said he later left the area and returned, taking a seat among party members and observers.
He alleged that tensions escalated when Deputy Mayor Ibrahim Nelson Kamara and another APC member, identified as Alie General, approached him, resulting in a heated verbal exchange.
Mayor Kamara further claimed that stones were subsequently thrown by individuals he believed were associated with the Deputy Mayor’s supporters, causing people nearby to disperse.
He also alleged that an individual who arrived in the Deputy Mayor’s vehicle approached his Jeep Wrangler carrying pepper spray. The Mayor said he remained inside his vehicle and avoided any physical confrontation.
Kamara maintained that he neither attacked the Deputy Mayor nor damaged any vehicle during the incident.
Following the confrontation, he said the matter was reported to officers at the Panlap Police Station for appropriate action.
The allegations and counter-allegations have added fresh controversy to the rerun elections, which were organised to address disputes arising from earlier lower-level party polls in three wards in Makeni.
Attempts to obtain a response from Deputy Mayor Ibrahim Nelson Kamara were unsuccessful, as he declined to comment on the allegations.
Meanwhile, APC officials have sought to reassure supporters that the dispute will not undermine party unity.
Roland Johnson, Coordinator for Bombali District within the APC Internal Elections Management Committee (IEMC), downplayed the incident and expressed confidence that the matter would be resolved through internal party mechanisms.
He emphasised that the rerun process should not be defined by the controversy and maintained that the APC remains united despite differing accounts of the events.
As party members continue to assess competing claims from both sides, questions remain over what exactly transpired during the rerun elections. What is clear, however, is that an exercise intended to resolve political disputes has generated a new debate over whose version of events is accurate.
