Reports monitored by this paper from the BBC Focus on Africa programme last evening indicated that there is a likelihood of Saturday’s elections in Sierra Leone to go to a second round between the ruling party candidate, Solomon Berewa, and Ernest Bia Koroma of the main opposition party.

The reports further suggested that the final results would not be known until today.

As at the time this story was being put to press yesterday, the National Electoral Commission Chairperson, Christiana Thorpe, was holding a Press Conference at the British Council Hall in Tower Freetown.

Election Observers have already declared the election to be very free and fair. There are said to be over 5,000 election observers monitoring the electoral process in the country only just beginning to put a brutal civil war behind it.

According to BBC reporter Omar Fofanah, there was a high turnout of voters, especially from the youth groups, which are enthusiastic about change. He also reported that voters have refused to be induced by any contending candidate. The situation is said to be generally calm.

To be elected in the first round the winning candidate must secure 55% of the total votes cast. There were 2.6 million registered voters.

If any of the candidates fail to secure the required 55% there will be a second round of voting among the two top candidates in 14 days time.