Opposition politician, musician, and women’s rights advocate Zainab O. Sheriff issued a defiant public statement this morning, reaffirming her loyalty to Sierra Leone and her commitment to constitutional order as she heads to court for her eighth appearance.

Sheriff, a flagbearer aspirant for the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) and founder of the civic movement Wi Duti Lappa, is currently facing two counts: incitement contrary to law and the use of threatening language. The charges stem from a speech she gave on January 31, 2026, during a major opposition gathering at the Brima Attouga Mini Stadium.

Taking to social media ahead of today’s hearing, Sheriff pushed back against the state’s accusations, framing her prosecution as an ironic suppression of a citizen advocating for democracy and the rule of law.

In her statement, Sheriff addressed the core of the state’s case against her. During the January rally, she was recorded suggesting that anyone who rigs an election should be treated like former rebel leader Foday Sankoh—who was charged with treason. The authorities deemed this a threat, but Sheriff argued her words were strictly a call for severe legal deterrence, not violence.

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“My statement was made to make anyone be afraid to even think of rigging elections and/or violating the Constitution in any shape or form,” Sheriff wrote. “I merely suggested that if anyone rigs elections in Sierra Leone in the future, my recommendation should be what is considered as a suitable penalty to be applied by the state, since it was the state that prosecuted Foday Sankoh.”

Sheriff emphasized her opposition to extra-judicial killings, noting that she specifically referenced the constitutional process used against Sankoh, fully aware that Sierra Leone has abolished the death penalty.

Furthermore, she highlighted a significant admission from the ongoing trial: the lack of a civilian victim. According to Sheriff, the cyber unit police officers who brought the charges admitted in court that there was no complainant and that they themselves were not incited by the video.

Sheriff also used the post to contextualize her political activism, attributing her drive to the trauma of the Sierra Leone civil war. Realizing the extreme vulnerability of citizens to both domestic and political violence, she concluded that strictly observing the Constitution was the only path to safety.

Crucially, she realized this mission required female leadership.

“I realized that the fate and destiny of Sierra Leone should not be left at the hands or mercy of men alone,” she explained. This realization birthed her campaign to motivate citizens, particularly women, to step out of the shadows and participate fully in policymaking.

She noted that the large crowds of supporters attending her court hearings prove her message is resonating with “normally timid and underprivileged citizens,” sparking a new wave of political awareness.

Calling her prosecution a “sad irony,” Sheriff expressed disbelief that the state is prosecuting someone demanding respect for the Constitution rather than applauding her efforts to raise civic awareness.

Despite her prolonged legal battle and multiple denied bail requests over the past few months, Sheriff remains resolute. She closed her message by acknowledging the women who paved the way before her and made a solemn pledge to her country.

“I recognize all the efforts that have been made before me by other women… in the hope and belief that whatever personal sacrifice I may be making today… will serve as a stepping stone for the citizens in the future,” she wrote. Swearing by historical and religious matriarchs, she vowed to put Sierra Leone’s peace, freedom, and prosperity above all else.

Sheriff’s trial continues today as human rights organizations and women’s advocacy groups closely monitor the proceedings.