The main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) has expressed concerns about aspects of the Constitution of Sierra Leone (Amendment) Act, 2025, and the broader constitutional reform process, citing issues of procedure, inclusivity, and potential implications for future elections.

The concerns were outlined during the party’s monthly press conference at its headquarters in Freetown, where senior party officials discussed both the proposed constitutional changes and the conduct of the recent census exercise.

Speaking at the event, former Finance Minister and APC stalwart Dr. Kelfala Marah stated that the constitutional reform process is encountering serious challenges. He acknowledged that the proposed amendments contain positive elements but cautioned that the overall process requires closer public scrutiny.

Dr. Marah urged citizens and party supporters to remain attentive, adding that government should ensure that reforms are carried out in a manner consistent with national interest and democratic principles.

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On census-related matters, the Chairman of the APC Census Committee, Hon. Balugu Koroma, questioned the implementation of the recent pilot census conducted by Statistics Sierra Leone. He noted that the exercise was reportedly carried out in four regions instead of the country’s five regions, with the North West Region excluded.

Hon. Koroma said the party has not received a clear explanation for the exclusion and described the development as concerning. He disclosed that the APC had established a Census Technical Committee to independently monitor census-related processes, a move he said was prompted by what the party considers shortcomings in the 2025 Mid-Term Census.

He warned that unreliable census data could affect planning for the 2028 general elections, noting that population figures are used in constituency delimitation, resource allocation, and other electoral preparations.

Addressing the legal framework for constitutional amendments, APC National Secretary General Hon. Osman Timbo referenced Section 108(1) of the Constitution, which requires that any Bill seeking to amend the Constitution be published in at least two issues of the Gazette, spaced a minimum of nine days apart, before being introduced in Parliament.

Hon. Timbo said the party is uncertain whether these procedural requirements have been satisfied in the current process. He added that the APC would oppose any provision that does not reflect what it considers to be the interests and aspirations of the people.

The party also raised concerns about provisions relating to the determination of presidential election results. Hon. Abdul Kargbo argued that introducing district-level vote thresholds as a condition for winning the presidency could have unintended consequences.

He pointed out that existing local government laws empower the President, acting on advice from relevant authorities, to declare new districts through statutory instruments subject to parliamentary approval.

According to Hon. Kargbo, a constitutional requirement that a presidential candidate must obtain a specified percentage of votes in a certain number of districts could create incentives for the creation of additional districts, potentially affecting electoral competitiveness.

“The law should not be framed in a way that makes it vulnerable to abuse,” Hon. Kargbo said, adding that lawmakers’ interpretations of legal provisions may differ from how ordinary citizens understand them.

The APC’s statements come amid ongoing national discussions about constitutional reform, governance, and electoral integrity.

Government authorities and relevant institutions have yet to formally respond to the specific concerns raised by the opposition party.