2012 Sierra Leonean general election

General elections were held in Sierra Leone on 17 November 2012.[1] The result was a sweeping victory for the ruling All People's Congress. Its leader, incumbent president Ernest Bai Koroma, won 58.7% of the vote, enough to win a second term without the need for a runoff. The APC also won 67 of the 112 elected seats in Parliament. To date, it is the APC's best showing at an election since the restoration of multiparty politics in 1991.

2012 Sierra Leone presidential election

17 November 2012

Nominee Ernest Bai Koroma Julius Maada Bio Party APC SLPP Running mate Samuel Sam-Sumana Kadi Sesay Popular vote 1,314,881 819,185 Percentage 58.7% 37.4%

Election results by district

President before election Ernest Bai Koroma All People's Congress Elected President Ernest Bai Koroma All People's Congress

Candidates

In April 2007, the APC endorsed incumbent Ernest Bai Koroma for a second term. He was challenged by former President and general Julius Maada Bio of the Sierra Leone People's Party. On July 31, 2011, Bio defeated Usman Boie Kamara for the party's nomination.[2]

In the elections for the twelve Chief seats in Parliament, only four were contested.[3]

Results

President

Koroma won 58.7 percent of the vote in the first round, exceeding the 55 percent threshold required to win the presidency in a single round.

Candidate		Running mate	Party	Votes	%
	Ernest Bai Koroma	Samuel Sam-Sumana	All People's Congress	1,314,881	58.65
	Julius Maada Bio	Kadi Sesay	Sierra Leone People's Party	837,517	37.36
	Charles Margai		People's Movement for Democratic Change	28,944	1.29
	Joshua Albert Carew		Citizens Democratic Party	22,863	1.02
	Eldred Collins		Revolutionary United Front	12,993	0.58
	Gibrilla Kamara		People's Democratic Party	8,273	0.37
	Kandeh Baba Conteh		Peace and Liberation Party	6,144	0.27
	Mohamed Bangura		United Democratic Movement	5,069	0.23
	James Obai Fullah		United National People's Party	5,044	0.23
Total				2,241,728	100.00
Valid votes				2,241,728	95.37
Invalid/blank votes				108,898	4.63
Total votes				2,350,626	100.00
Registered voters/turnout				2,692,635	87.30
Source: National Electoral Commission

By district

District	Koroma		Bio
	Votes	%	Votes	%
Kailahun District	26,331	22.6	85,525	73.3
Kenema District	39,180	18.7	163,303	77.9
Kono District	67,238	58.2	42,912	37.1
Bombali District	176,023	93.2	8,249	4.4
Kambia District	88,597	82.0	14,083	13.0
Koinadugu District	89,282	86.4	8,333	8.1
Port Loko District	182,761	90.2	11,329	5.6
Tonkolili District	145,479	92.6	6,864	4.4
Bo District	36,575	16.7	169,254	77.1
Bonthe District	7,667	11.7	52,762	80.6
Moyamba District	28,703	26.2	71,587	65.3
Pujehun District	10,565	15.5	50,796	74.7
Western Area Urban District	315,071	71.4	120,646	27.3
Western Area Rural District	101,409	74.3	31,874	23.4
Source: National Electoral Commission

Parliament

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	All People's Congress	1,149,234	53.67	67	+8
	Sierra Leone People's Party	819,185	38.25	42	–1
	People's Movement for Democratic Change	69,202	3.23	0	–10
	National Democratic Alliance	27,706	1.29	0	0
	Revolutionary United Front	12,573	0.59	0	New
	United Democratic Movement	11,771	0.55	0	New
	People's Democratic Party	8,387	0.39	0	New
	Citizens Democratic Party	7,446	0.35	0	New
	United National People's Party	4,734	0.22	0	0
	Peace and Liberation Party	2,330	0.11	0	0
	Independents	28,914	1.35	0	0
Paramount chiefs				12	0
Vacant seats				3	–
Total		2,141,482	100.00	124	0
Source: National Electoral Commission

By-elections

Three seats were left vacant, with no election taking place in constituencies 5, 12 and 92 (Western Area Rural District). The election was delayed in Western Area Rural District due to the death of PMDC candidate, and a by-election was held on 9 February 2013. The result was a victory for the APC candidate, who received 61% of the vote.[4]

Aftermath

Results showed Koroma winning in the first round of voting, receiving 58.7% of the vote against 37.4% for the SLPP candidate, Bio. If he had received less than 55% of the vote, a second round would have been necessary. Following the announcement of results, Koroma was promptly sworn in for another term as President on 23 November 2012. He said that he would "continue to attract investment" and "continue to fight corruption".[5]

References

1. "Election Guide, Sierra Leone Country Profile". International Federation for Electoral Systems. 19 November 2010. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
2. SEM (1 August 2011). "Julius Maada Bio wins SLPP flagbearership". Sierra Express Media. Archived from the original on 27 May 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
3. Government Notice National Electoral Commission
4. Declaration of Parliamentary Election Results in Constituency 92 National Electoral Commission
5. Sierra Leone's Koroma promises growth in new term Reuters, 23 November 2012