Opposition Leader Walks Out of Parliament Over Electoral Commissioner Appointment

16 Jul 2025 • 1 min read • 4,412 views • 4 comments

The Opposition Leader in Parliament, Hon. Abdul Kargbo, reportedly walked out during a parliamentary assessment of presidential nominees, specifically objecting to the appointment of Alex Pat Labib Saffa as the Electoral Commissioner for the Eastern Region.

During the session, which involved evaluating the credentials of various presidential nominees, Kargbo expressed his concerns about Saffa’s eligibility. He argued that it is unconstitutional for an individual who has served as a public servant to hold a position of Electoral Commissioner, as such he cannot be a party to such appointment.

Kargbo firmly declared his stance against the appointment, saying, “From my own side, I will not be part of anything that will go against the grunorm of our state, which is our constitution.”

The government, through a recent press release from State House, confirmed the presidential appointment of Alex Pat Labib Saffa. The release reiterated that the Parliament of Sierra Leone holds the authority to approve high-ranking presidential appointments, including those of ministers and commissioners.