SLPP Says It Will Abide by Supreme Court Ruling on Constitutional Amendment
The governing Sierra Leone People’s Party says it will accept the Supreme Court’s eventual decision on the disputed constitutional amendment process, regardless of the outcome.
Jimmy Batilo Songs made the remarks Thursday, Oct. 8, during an interview at the Supreme Court as proceedings continued over challenges to Parliament’s handling of the Constitution of Sierra Leone (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
Songs said the party’s position is grounded in its stated commitment to the rule of law and respect for Sierra Leone’s constitutional institutions.
He said the party believes the parliamentary process was properly followed but would allow the Supreme Court to determine the legal questions before it.
“We believe in the rule of law,” Songs said, adding that the law would ultimately guide the party’s position.
His comments come as the Supreme Court considers related cases challenging aspects of the amendment process. The court has already ruled on several preliminary issues, including an objection to an application seeking to consolidate three related matters.
The constitutional dispute centres, among other issues, on the interpretation of the requirements for passing constitutional amendments, including the parliamentary support required under Section 108 of the 1991 Constitution.
Songs said political parties and lawmakers participated in the parliamentary proceedings before the dispute reached the courts. He also referred to the withdrawal of some opposition lawmakers during the parliamentary process as part of the events preceding the litigation.
However, he declined to prejudge the substantive issues before the Supreme Court, saying the judiciary should determine whether the constitutional requirements were satisfied.
The Supreme Court is Sierra Leone’s highest court, and the current proceedings involve multiple parties challenging or seeking clarification on aspects of the amendment process. The court has also allowed the Institute for Legal Research and Advocacy for Justice to participate in the proceedings as an amicus curiae.
Songs said the party would therefore respect the court’s final determination, stressing that the governing party’s commitment to democratic institutions includes accepting decisions made through the country’s judicial process.
The court’s eventual determination will address the legal questions placed before it rather than the political positions of the parties involved.