On the eve of Parliament’s vote on the Constitution of Sierra Leone (Amendment) Bill, 2025, the main opposition All People’s Congress has issued a detailed position on the proposed amendments. The party’s statement, released Sunday, sets out where it stands on the reforms ahead of Monday’s scheduled vote — one of the most consequential legislative sessions in recent years.
In a press release dated August 9 and signed by National Secretary General Lansana Dumbuya, Esq., the APC stated that it is “not opposed to constitutional reform, nor are we opposed to the Bill in its entirety.” The party said it recognizes that certain provisions “can strengthen our democracy, broaden political participation and promote greater inclusion,” and pledged support for those measures.
Among the areas of agreement, the APC said it “welcomes and supports” the proposed constitutional guarantee of a minimum 30 percent representation for women in political nominations, noting that women “have made an indispensable contribution to the political, social and economic development of Sierra Leone.” The party also endorsed provisions allowing Sierra Leoneans with dual citizenship to contest parliamentary seats and hold ministerial and other public appointments, while maintaining that existing citizenship requirements for the offices of President and Vice President “will continue to apply.”
However, the party drew firm lines on two issues it considers non-negotiable: the electoral system and the presidential election threshold.
On the electoral system, the APC said it “supports the retention of the First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) constituency-based electoral system,” arguing that the model preserves what it called “one of the most important relationships in representative democracy: the direct relationship between a citizen and his or her elected Member of Parliament.” The party said its position reflects consultations involving the Council of Paramount Chiefs, the Inter-Religious Council and civil society groups, who it said had “expressed support for retaining constituency-based representation rather than adopting Proportional Representation.”
On the presidential threshold, the APC said it “believes that the constitutional threshold for the election of the President should remain at 55%,” describing the figure as a safeguard that compels candidates to “build support beyond the traditional strongholds of his or her political party.” The party added that in “a country where our peace, stability and future progress depend heavily upon national cohesion,” the Constitution should “encourage politicians to build bridges” rather than deepen divisions.
The statement went further to appeal directly to lawmakers across the political divide, urging both APC and Sierra Leone People’s Party members to “listen to the voices of the Paramount Chiefs, the religious community, civil society and, above all, the ordinary citizens whose Constitution you are being asked to amend.” The party added a direct plea: “Do not disappoint the people of Sierra Leone.”
The APC closed its position paper by reiterating that the Constitution “does not belong to the APC” and “does not belong to the SLPP,” but to “the people of Sierra Leone.” It cautioned that “history will record not only how Members voted, but whether… they listened to the people who entrusted them with public office.”
The statement was signed off with the party’s rallying line: “Country first. Democracy always. The people must have the final say.”
Parliament is expected to take up the Bill for debate and voting when it reconvenes on Monday.
