The ruling Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) has emerged victorious in the parliamentary elections, winning 60 percent of the seats, according to the country's electoral commission (ECSL).
The main opposition party, the All People's Congress (APC), has already rejected the results of the 24 June election, citing "glaring irregularities and violations of established electoral procedures," and called for a re-run after incumbent President Julius Maada Bio won a second term on Tuesday.
The most striking feature of the election were the advances made by the ruling party in the diamond-rich district of Kono, where it formerly had no seats. They also gained support in opposition strongholds in the North and West of the country, including the capital, Freetown.
However, the APC retained control of the crucial mayorship of Freetown with 51.3 percent of the vote.
The APC also declared that it refused to take part in any form of governance because of alleged election irregularities. They criticized the situation, stating that Sierra Leone was witnessing "injustice", "tyranny" and the "usurpation of powe.."
"We can no longer tolerate injustice, tyranny and usurpation of power in Sierra Leone. This is what a dictatorship looks like," the APC said.
In response to the APC's demand for a new vote, Information Minister Mohamed Rahman Swaray dismissed the request as mere "wishful thinking", emphasizing that holding a rerun after the swearing-in ceremony would be "unconstitutional".
"A rerun after an official declaration of results and a swearing-in ceremony is unconstitutional," Swaray told the media on Saturday. "It can only happen through a Supreme Court decision. Otherwise no political party can arrogate to themselves that right or power. It's wishful thinking."
The electoral commission said that it plans to release detailed results from each polling station for public scrutiny, but cautioned that this process will take time.