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The Lawyers’ Society has strongly condemned the proposed appointment of Mr. Edmond Sylvester Alpha as Chief Electoral Commissioner, describing the move as premature and potentially detrimental to ongoing constitutional and electoral reform processes.
The Society said it had seen a letter dated 10th February 2026 circulating on social media, purportedly from the Office of the President, requesting the views of all registered political parties on the proposed appointment of Mr. Alpha, who is currently serving as a Commissioner of the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL).
The request, according to the letter, is in line with Section 32(3) of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone (Act No. 6 of 1991 as amended), which requires the President to consult all registered political parties before appointing a Chief Electoral Commissioner.
Concerns Over Timing and Reform Process
In a detailed statement, the Lawyers’ Society argued that appointing a Chief Electoral Commissioner while constitutional amendment discussions are stillongoing could undermine the reform process and disregard the expressed will of the people.
The Society referenced both the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) Report and the Agreement for National Unity (Tripartite) Report, which recommend amending Section 32(3) to introduce a Search and Nomination Committee. This committee would be responsible for providing nominees to the President for appointment to the ECSL and the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC).
According to the Society, proceeding with the proposed appointment before implementing Recommendation 36 of the Tripartite Agreement and Recommendation 8.10 of the CRC Report could compromise the integrity of the reform process and create the perception of a lack of commitment to genuine electoral reform.
The Lawyers’ Society further cautioned that appointing Mr. Alpha before implementing key reforms, including Recommendation 6, which calls for an external functional review of the ECSL, may repeat transparency and accountability concerns observed during the 2023 general elections.
The Society warned that such a move risks reinforcing past shortcomings instead of advancing accountability and strengthening public confidence in the electoral system.
In light of these concerns, the Lawyers’ Society urged the Government of Sierra Leone to reconsider the proposed appointment of Chief Electoral Commissioner, conclude the constitutional review process, and fully implement the Tripartite Agreement-particularly the recommendations relating to the appointment of members of the ECSL and PPRC.
The Society emphasized that safeguarding the credibility and independence of the Electoral Commission remains central to strengthening democracy and public trust in Sierra Leone’s governance system.
