Reports say some Members of Parliament of the main opposition, All People’s Congress (APC) are currently in hiding for fear of being arrested by the Sierra Leone Police, according to Sierra Eye Salone.
An opposition MP who spoke to Sierra Eye Salone on condition of anonymity says as the Proportional Representation Regulations were about to be laid they objected on grounds that it was unconstitutional. They tried to stop it but they were removed from Parliament.
Section 100 of Constitution of Sierra Leone states that, “No civil or criminal process issuing from any court or place out of Parliament shall be served on or executed in relation to the Speaker or a Member or the Clerk of Parliament while he is on his way to attending or returning from any proceedings of Parliament.” Section 99 of the Constitution also grants MPs immunity.
Earlier today, reports indicate that armed police entered the well of Parliament following a fracas as they discussed regulations to change the electoral system to proportional representation.
Members of Parliament were said to be exchanging blows in the well after disagreeing with each other.
The PR system is the proposed electoral system to be used by Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) in the coming 2023 election which makes the entire country a single constituency and members of parliament will be determined by the percentage of their political parties.
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