Hon. Sengepoh Soloman Thomas Emerges as Speaker of Sierra Leone’s Parliament
In a decisive fourth round of voting held in Freetown on Thursday, 2nd May, 2024, Hon. Sengepoh Soloman Thomas clinched the esteemed position of Speaker of the Parliament of Sierra Leone. His victory, with a commanding 128 votes, solidified his leadership in the parliamentary chambers.
The electoral process began with two distinguished candidates vying for the prestigious role. The Sierra Leone’s People’s Party (SLPP) nominated Hon. Sengepoh Soloman Thomas, while the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) put forth Hon. Daniel Brima Koroma as their contender.
Per the constitutional mandate of Sierra Leone, a two-thirds majority, totaling 98 votes, was the threshold required for the Speakership. However, after three successive rounds of voting, neither candidate met this criterion.
In the initial ballot, Hon. Sengepoh Soloman Thomas secured 93 votes, while 52 votes were cast in favor of Hon. Daniel Brima Koroma. The second round saw a surge in support for Hon. Thomas, garnering 96 votes, while Hon. Koroma received 49 votes. Despite the incremental gains, the third round persisted in a deadlock, with 95 votes favoring Hon. Thomas and 50 votes for Hon. Koroma.
Following the conclusion of the third round, Hon. Daniel Brima Koroma gracefully withdrew his candidacy, paving the way for a unanimous decision in the fourth round. Consequently, Hon. Sengepoh Soloman Thomas emerged as the sole contender and eventually secured the Speakership with a resounding majority.
As the newly elected Speaker of the Parliament of Sierra Leone, Hon. Sengepoh Soloman Thomas assumes a pivotal role in guiding the legislative affairs of the nation, embodying a commitment to uphold the democratic principles and serve the interests of the Sierra Leonean populace.
