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APC Member of Parliament for Bombali District, Hon. Ibrahim Barrie, has strongly criticized President Julius Maada Bio’s address on the Constitutional Amendment Bill and confirmed that the opposition party will reject both the proposed Proportional Representation (PR) electoral system and the proposed 50 percent plus one presidential threshold amendment.
In a statement issued ahead of Parliament’s expected conclusion and vote on the bill, Barrie said the APC Parliamentary Group would support reforms that strengthen democratic institutions but would oppose any amendment that, in its view, concentrates excessive political power in the hands of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP).
Barrie said he agreed with President Bio’s call for a stronger democracy, but argued that genuine democratic strengthening requires greater accountability, protection of direct constituency representation, and resistance to what he described as constitutional changes designed for political advantage.
He defended the current First Past the Post constituency system, saying it provides every community with a direct representative in Parliament and maintains a clear line of accountability between elected officials and citizens.
According to him, the proposed PR system would weaken constituency representation and reduce the direct relationship between MPs and the people they serve. He maintained that the existing electoral system is functioning and should not be replaced without compelling national reasons.
Barrie further accused the government of pursuing the reforms for political convenience rather than national interest. He claimed the proposed changes could create conditions that would benefit the ruling party in future elections and potentially strengthen its hold on power.
Addressing arguments linking the reforms to women’s political participation, the Bombali lawmaker said Parliament had already passed the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act, which provides a framework for increasing women’s representation in public life. He argued that improving women’s participation does not require abolishing constituency-based representation.
The APC MP said constitutional reform should be undertaken for the benefit of the country and not for what he termed “constitutional engineering” aimed at securing a political advantage ahead of the 2028 elections.
Barrie stated that his vote would be guided by principle and by what he believes is in the best interest of Sierra Leone and the people of Bombali. He concluded by emphasizing that strong institutions, rather than strong governments, are the true guarantee of democracy.
