The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Hon. Abdul Kargbo, has commended Members of Parliament from the All People’s Congress (APC) and other opposition representatives for what he described as a principled stand against participating in a constitutional amendment procedure they believe did not meet constitutional requirements.

Speaking after walking out of Parliament, Kargbo said the opposition’s decision was guided by the need to defend the Constitution and protect the interests of the people of Sierra Leone.

He stressed that democracy requires leaders to stand firm during difficult moments and said the situation had provided an important opportunity for opposition MPs to demonstrate unity and collaboration for the national interest rather than for personal or partisan considerations.

The walkout, involving 49 opposition MPs, occurred after Parliament voted 96–41 to reject a constitutional proposal that would have established a Search and Nomination Committee for the appointment of Electoral Commissioners. The vote instead retained the existing provision under Section 32(2) of the 1991 Constitution, which grants the President the power to appoint commissioners after consulting with registered political party leaders.

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Hon. Kargbo challenged the validity of the vote on the floor, arguing that the 96 votes in favor fell short of the two-thirds majority required for constitutional amendments under Section 108(b).

However, Speaker of Parliament Segepoh Solomon Thomas upheld a counter-argument from SLPP MP Hon. Gevao. Gevao argued that under Section 91(1), a simple majority was sufficient because the vote pertained to a specific clause rather than the Bill in its entirety. The Speaker has indicated he will refer the dispute to the Supreme Court for legal interpretation.

Kargbo acknowledged that the opposition had faced criticism over its position but maintained that Members of Parliament could not support any procedure they considered unconstitutional.

He described the Constitution as the country’s highest legal document after the Holy Scriptures and argued that any constitutional amendment that fails to secure the constitutionally required two-thirds majority should not proceed.

The APC parliamentary leader praised opposition MPs who publicly supported the decision, saying their collective position had demonstrated unity within the opposition. He added that the action taken was not intended to divide Parliament but to uphold constitutional principles.

He emphasized that the walkout was an effort to protect the integrity of Parliament, stating that lawmakers have a fundamental responsibility to ensure constitutional thresholds are fully complied with.

“This is one of the finest opportunities we, as Members of Parliament, have had to stand firmly for the people and in defence of the Constitution of Sierra Leone,” Kargbo noted in his message of appreciation. “No force can divide us when we stand together for what is right.”

Addressing speculation about a possible parliamentary boycott, Kargbo clarified that the opposition had not boycotted Parliament. According to him, the MPs only excused themselves from participating in the procedural aspect of the constitutional amendment process.

“We did not boycott Parliament. Our position was a principled one,” Kargbo stated. “We stood against what we believe was a procedurally unconstitutional attempt to amend the Constitution, and we did so to ensure that the constitutional requirements governing amendments are respected.”

Kargbo said he expects all opposition MPs to return when the House resumes in October. He concluded by thanking his colleagues for their support and expressing confidence that the opposition would remain united in defending constitutional governance.