Unity Party Condemns Justice Fisher’s High Court Ruling in PPRC Case After Three-Year Delay

The Unity Party has issued a strong condemnation of the Sierra Leone judiciary, following what it describes as an “unjust” and “delayed” ruling in its long-standing legal battle against the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC).

The ruling, delivered by Justice Adrian Fisher on Thursday, May 29, 2025, came after nearly three years of judicial delays, which the Unity Party says have undermined its constitutional rights and the public’s confidence in the country’s legal system.

In a press statement released Tuesday, the party revealed that it has yet to receive a written copy of the ruling, despite repeated requests. This, it says, further compounds what it calls “a pattern of systemic bias” and lack of transparency in the justice system.

“This ruling—delivered after years of obstruction, in a manner that defies basic courtroom standards, and now withheld from our lawyers—epitomises the systemic bias and the broken judicial system we have endured,” said Matron Femi Claudius-Cole, leader of the Unity Party. “Justice delayed is justice denied, and justice concealed is justice betrayed.”

The dispute stems from the Unity Party’s exclusion from participating in the 2023 general elections—a move the party claims was unconstitutional. After being barred, the party sought redress through the High Court, expecting a swift resolution in line with constitutional provisions governing electoral disputes.

However, according to the Unity Party, despite submitting their case in a timely manner, they were never given the opportunity to be heard in court before the ruling was made.

Claudius-Cole reaffirmed the party’s commitment to the rule of law and called on the judiciary to immediately release a written copy of the judgment. She also urged citizens to remain vigilant in holding state institutions accountable.

“The Unity Party remains unwavering in its commitment to upholding the rule of law and the democratic rights of all Sierra Leoneans,” she added. “Justice must not only be done — it must be seen to be done.”

The Unity Party is now calling for national support in its demand for judicial transparency and reform.