afrol News, 13 February - The National Electoral Commission (NEC) of Sierra Leone has fired 477 officers after they were linked to electoral malpractices during last year's presidential polls.

NEC Chairperson, Christiana Thorpe said the fired officers had not only been "blacklisted" but they would not also be qualified to preside over any future elections in Sierra Leone.

Mr Ernest Bai Koroma of the opposition All People's Congress won the polls considered credible by international observers.

But irregularities were reported in 477 of the 6,171 polling stations during the presidential run-off between Mr Koroma and Solomon Berewa, candidate of the former Sierra Leone People's Party.

The electoral chief said the officers were held liable for malpractices and fraud that took place in polling stations under their responsibility.

"The officers were in charge of polling stations where results were invalidated during last September's presidential run-off elections," she said.

"We want to make elections credible in the country," she said, adding, "we would rather have less people working for us than criminals who distort figures. We are weeding out individuals whose behaviours are inimical to a free and fair electoral process."

The development comes at a time Sierra Leone is preparing to hold by-elections in four constituencies whose representatives have been appointed ministers.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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