By Richmond B. Tholley
Usif Kamara has been declared Paramount Chief-Elect of Bombali Sebora Chiefdom, concluding a closely watched electoral process to fill a three-year vacancy.
Kamara, representing the Pate Bana Masimbo Ruling House and contesting under the POT symbol, secured a decisive victory in a runoff election held on Sunday, April 12, at the Practising Field in Makeni City. He will succeed the late Paramount Chief Bai Sebora Kasanga II, who passed away in 2023.
According to the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone, Kamara polled 1,035 votes to defeat his opponent Edward Sullay Kamara of the HUSK RICE symbol, who secured 327 votes.
The result was formally validated and endorsed by Assessor Paramount Chiefs P.C. Bai Kompa Bomboli III and P.C. Kandeh Bangura Gbetgbo, following a peaceful poll among tribal authorities and chiefdom councillors.
The runoff was triggered after the first round of voting on Saturday, April 11, failed to produce an outright winner. Nine candidates contested the revered traditional seat. By law, a candidate must secure at least 55% of total votes to be declared the winner. When no candidate met the threshold — with Kamara leading on 785 votes, or 52.26% — the ECSL scheduled the Sunday runoff between the top two contenders.
Voting took place across six polling stations at the Practising Field, with the electorate drawn exclusively from tribal authorities and chiefdom councillors. The process was closely monitored by local authorities and conducted under the supervision of Provincial Secretary Ishaga M. Turay.
A visible police presence was maintained around the venue to ensure order, and no major incidents were reported across both rounds. Prior to the polls, the provincial secretary and ECSL officials had urged all candidates, supporters, and tribal authorities to respect the law and allow the democratic process to run its course without interference.
With the election now concluded, Usif Kamara prepares to officially take the throne as the new custodian of tradition and local governance for one of Bombali District’s most significant chiefdoms.
