APC Boycott as Parliament Passes Constitutional Amendment
Sahid Bangura Parliament has passed the Constitutional Amendment Bill 2025 amid a boycott by the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC), in a development that has sparked renewed debate over Sierra Leone’s electoral system.
The motion was reportedly supported by 97 Members of Parliament from the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), Paramount Chiefs, and two APC MPs, Hon. Mohamed Bangura and Hon. Alfred Thompson, who voted in favour through a voice vote.
At the centre of the amendment is the Proportional Representation (PR) system, alongside the First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) electoral system, with the 50+1 requirement emerging as a major point of contention.
The APC’s boycott has drawn criticism from sections of the public, with questions being raised over the party’s decision to stay away from the parliamentary process while two of its MPs participated in and supported the vote.
Following the passage of the amendment, the Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas, has requested an interpretation from the Supreme Court on the method of voting used during the proceedings. The interpretation is expected within three months.
The passage of the amendment marks another major development in Sierra Leone’s ongoing electoral reform debate and is likely to intensify discussions among political parties, civil society groups and the wider public.