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The All People’s Congress (APC) Party has launched a strong critique against the Bio-led government following its decision to postpone the constitutionally mandated 2025 Population and Housing Census to December 2026.
Speaking at a press conference on May 16, 2025, at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown, APC’s National Secretary General, Lansana Dumbuya Esq., described the postponement as a “calculated attempt to manipulate key national processes” and a “dangerous affront to democratic governance.”
Dumbuya emphasized that the delay echoes the controversies surrounding the 2021 Mid-Term Census, which the APC previously condemned for lacking credibility and being marred by political interference.
He asserted that the latest decision represents more than just a routine administrative delay; it poses a direct threat to transparency, accountability, and the rule of law in Sierra Leone.
The APC criticized the government for what it termed “gross incompetence and failure to plan,” pointing to the September 2024 presidential proclamation that announced the census as premature and lacking a solid technical foundation.
Dumbuya noted that no significant preparatory work had been conducted to justify the proposed timeline, including essential elements such as cartographic mapping, enumerator training, and a pilot census.
The party’s Publicity Secretary, Abdul Karim Kamara, also expressed disappointment, questioning the rationale behind the postponement. He admitted that conflicting information from officials within Statistics Sierra Leone had led to the decision, which he deemed a disservice to the nation.
The APC has raised concerns that the delay could undermine the credibility of the census process and may be politically motivated. They argue that accurate census data is crucial for national planning and development, and any manipulation could hinder the return to a constituency-based electoral system, as recommended by the Tripartite Committee.
In response to the postponement, the APC has established its own Census Technical Committee to oversee the process and collaborate with Statistics Sierra Leone and other stakeholders. They have called on international development partners to remain vigilant and ensure that their support does not legitimize inefficiency or political manipulation.
