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Honourable Hindolo Moiwo Gevao, a Member of Parliament representing Kailahun District from the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), has alleged that the main opposition All Peoples Congress (APC) has been actively lobbying the international community to secure the appointment of National Elections Watch head Marcella Samba Sesay as Chief Electoral Commissioner.
Gavao made this known during an interview on 98.1 FM that the All Peoples Congress (APC) has been actively lobbying the international community to secure the appointment of Marcella Samba Sesay as Chief Electoral Commissioner. Sesay currently serves as the head of the National Elections Watch (NEW), a prominent domestic election observation coalition.
“The APC has been lobbying the international community for the appointment of the National Elections Watch boss, Marcella Samba Sesay, as Chief Electoral Commissioner,” Hon. Gavao stated during the broadcast, asserting that he possesses evidence to support the claim.
Gavao framed the alleged lobbying effort as part of broader political maneuvering by the opposition regarding electoral leadership and institutional independence.
The accusation arrives at a highly volatile moment in Sierra Leonean politics, following the APC’s execution of a nationwide boycott of governance structures.
On March 4, the APC announced the immediate withdrawal of its elected officials from Parliament and Local Councils. The boycott is a direct protest against President Julius Maada Bio’s appointment of Edmond Sylvester Alpha as the new Chief Electoral Commissioner of the ECSL.
The APC has vehemently opposed Alpha’s appointment since mid-February. The opposition argues that Alpha, a senior ECSL official during the disputed 2023 elections, lacks the neutrality and public trust required for the role. Furthermore, the APC contends that his appointment circumvents ongoing electoral reforms—specifically, a pending constitutional amendment recommended by the post-election Tripartite Committee that would establish an independent Search and Nomination Committee to vet future electoral commissioners.
The government has defended the appointment of Mr. Alpha. On February 28, Presidential Press Secretary Yusuf Keketoma Sandi stated that President Bio acted entirely within the bounds of the 1991 Constitution.
Sandi noted that the President consulted with registered political parties—securing the endorsement of 12 out of 14—before sending Alpha’s nomination to Parliament for approval. He dismissed the APC’s argument that the appointment should wait for pending constitutional amendments, stating that current laws remain in effect until new legislation is formally enacted. Sandi urged the opposition to address their grievances through parliamentary channels rather than boycotts.
The APC members of Parliament boycotted Alpha’s parliamentary approval session on February 27. The party’s leadership subsequently met with the European Union Ambassador to Sierra Leone to discuss the political developments and the implementation of the Tripartite Committee recommendations.
The APC maintains that its boycott will continue until Edmond Sylvester Alpha vacates the office of Chief Electoral Commissioner.
