Freetown: President Julius Maada Bio has won re-election in Sierra Leone’s tense presidential vote, the election commission confirmed, but his main challenger was quick to reject the results.
Chief Electoral Commissioner Mohamed Kenewui Konneh said on Tuesday that Bio, 59, was re-elected with 56.17 percent of Saturday’s vote. His top rival Samura Kamara, of the All People’s Congress (APC), came second with 41.16 percent.
“By the powers invested in me … I hereby certify that Bio Julius Maada … [is] duly elected president,” Konneh said. Winning candidates are required to secure 55 percent of votes, and Bio narrowly avoided a second round.
Kamara, 72, said that he “categorically” rejected the results. “It is a sad day for our beloved country. It is a frontal attack on our fledgling democracy,” he posted on Twitter.–Agencies
