Leaders of the All People’s Congress (APC), the main opposition party in Sierra Leone, attended Parliament on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, for the First Reading of the Constitutional Amendment Bill. Their presence marked a key moment as the legislative process for the proposed changes commenced. An APC representative also participated in a preliminary meeting held earlier the same day, indicating engagement with the amendment process from its initial stages.
Key Proposed Changes Detailed
The proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill outlines several significant changes to Sierra Leone's electoral and governance frameworks. One key alteration suggests changing the presidential election winning requirement from 55% to a simple majority of 50% plus one vote, alongside candidates securing at least 20% of the votes in two-thirds of the country’s voting districts. The bill also proposes a shift in the electoral system from the current First-Past-The-Post (Constituency) model to a Proportional Representation (PR) System, which would eliminate the need for by-elections.
Under the new proposals, the President and Vice President could be removed by Parliament with a two-thirds majority if expelled from their elected political party. Additionally, the President would be empowered to appoint a Search and Nomination Committee responsible for nominating the Chief Electoral Commissioner, with specific requirements for this role. General elections are proposed to take place on the Second Saturday of November of every election year. A further amendment mandates that at least 30% of a political party’s nominees for national and local government elections must be women. The bill also seeks to allow independent candidates to contest for president without the previous compulsion to run under a political party. The period for public office holders to resign before contesting as a Member of Parliament would be reduced from 12 months to 6 months. Finally, the proposed changes would shorten the period to file a petition against election results in the Supreme Court from 7 days to 3 days after the official announcement.
Context of Review
The current amendment process forms part of a broader, long-running constitutional review in Sierra Leone. This full review has been underway for an extended period, addressing various aspects of the nation's foundational legal document. Regarding the ongoing legislative efforts, the All People’s Congress (APC) has communicated its position on the proposed changes. The main opposition party stated that its support for the constitutional amendments is contingent upon the process being conducted in a procedural and legal manner. This condition emphasizes the APC's focus on adherence to established legal frameworks during the review and approval of the Constitutional Amendment Bill.
APC's Stance and Solidarity
The leadership of the All People’s Congress (APC) attended Parliament to demonstrate support and solidarity with Members of Parliament. This presence, according to party statements, was on behalf of the people of Sierra Leone. The APC's engagement signifies its intention to be actively involved in the legislative discourse surrounding the proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill. The party's attendance shows its commitment to observing the parliamentary proceedings as the First Reading of the bill commenced. This public display of solidarity by the opposition leadership aims to reflect the party's dedication to representing its constituents throughout the constitutional review process.