Parliament Boycott: I Would Have Removed APC MPs if I Was President Bio – SLPP Politician

SLPP North America Public Relations Officer, Patrick Maada Koroma has shared what actions he would have taken if he were serving as President of Sierra Leone at the time when the All People’s Congress (APC) refused to participate in parliamentary proceedings following the 2023 elections.

During a recent appearance on an online TV interview program, Koroma explained that if he had been the one leading the country during that period, he would not have waited.

He made it clear that he would have taken action to remove the APC Members of Parliament who chose not to attend sittings. He said this is not just his personal view, but something that is supported by the country’s laws.

Koroma pointed to the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone, which lays out the rules and expectations for elected parliamentarians. According to him, the law gives a specific period during which an elected MP must take up their seat in parliament. If they fail to do so within that time, their seat becomes subject to removal under the law. He said this measure exists for a reason and should be used to make sure that all elected representatives are actively carrying out their duties.

He went on to say that the Speaker of Parliament, Dr. Abass Chernor Bundu, did not ignore the situation. In fact, Koroma noted that Dr. Bundu repeatedly reminded the APC members about what the Constitution says. Still, the boycott went on for some time. Despite this, President Julius Maada Bio did not immediately enforce that part of the law. Instead, he chose to give them time and space, hoping for a peaceful resolution.

Koroma said that although the APC had lost the election and were clearly unhappy with the outcome, the president did not shut them out completely. He allowed space for their return and kept the political door open. This, Koroma said, was a sign of leadership focused on peace and inclusion, rather than confrontation.

He also discussed the tripartite committee that was created as part of efforts to address post-election tensions.

Koroma explained that the committee had two major goals: One was to review the country’s electoral laws, which many people across Sierra Leone had been complaining about for a long time. The second goal was to bring the APC back into national conversations. He said that even though the APC had removed themselves from parliament, they still remained a major political party and had a role to play in governance.

Koroma said President Bio could have taken a firmer path by removing the absent MPs as the Constitution allows, but instead he chose a route that focused on dialogue and moving the country forward. While Koroma himself would have acted more directly, he said the president made a choice that created room for peace and national unity.