The main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party has finally got a new constitution which took effects on 25th March, 2022 after protracted infighting and court injunctions.

The Party released a statement confirming effect of the New Constitution which was adopted on 19th September, 20221. The New Constitution has repealed and replaced the 1995 Constitution which many had argued was moribund and lacked democratic tenets.

“Fellow Comrades of the All People’s Congress (APC) and Members of the general public, today the 25th of March 2022 marks an important day in the history of the APC. We are transitioning into a new legal regime. The 1995 Constitution of the Party has been repealed and replaced by a New Constitution adopted on the 19th of September 2021. By ruling of the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC), this New Constitution takes effect from today the 25th of March 2022.” The press release stated.

This Constitution is a culmination of all our efforts that started way back in 2002 and more recently based on the recommendation of the 9 – Man Committee set up after the 2018 Presidential Elections. We thank everyone for their patience and effort through this process and reserve special thanks and appreciation for the members of the Constitution Review Committee (CRC) for producing this document.

However, the party still maintained the existing leadership of the party until after the first elections and conventions.

“By virtue of the provisions of Article 82 (b) and (c) of the New Constitution, “the existing Party leadership, including but not limited to, the Chairman and Leader, the Deputy National Chairman and Leader, the National Secretary General and all other National Officers, the members of National Advisory Committee (NAC), the National Executive Committee, the Regional and Diaspora Executive, the District Executives, the Constituency Executives, the National Executive of the Women’s Congress, the National Executive of the Youth League and all other constitutionally established executives”, shall continue to have effect and remain in place after the entry into force of this Constitution until the first elections and conventions are conducted.”

The new constitution emanated from a report of the committee that was set up after the APC lost the March, 2018 presidential runoff, which laid emphasis on its recommendation for a review of the 1995 APC Constitution.

It could be recalled that the APC’s new draft constitution was adopted during the Makeni emergency National Delegates’ Conference in 2021 and gazette for the second time after clarification of all objections raised by objectors.

The new draft constitution has come into effect on 25th March, 2022 pending High Court Judge, Justice Adrian Fisher’s ruling on the matter between Alfred Peter Conteh and APC. The outcome of the ruling will set out the next National Delegates’ Conference where a presidential candidate will be elected.

Download The Constitution

APC New Constitution 25.03.2022