The main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) has firmly rejected any suggestion that Sierra Leone’s next general election could be delayed until 2030, insisting that President Julius Maada Bio’s constitutional mandate expires on October 11, 2028.

APC National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Sidi Yayah Tunis issued the rebuttal in response to remarks by ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) spokesperson Moses Mambu, who recently mentioned both 2028 and 2030 as possible election years.

Tunis emphasised that the 1991 Constitution limits any president to two five-year terms. Bio was first elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2023, making his final term’s end date constitutionally fixed.

“The longest President Bio will stay in power in this country is up to October 11, 2028,” Tunis stated during an interview.

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Mambu, the SLPP’s National Public Relations Officer, had said during a Liberty Online TV appearance that the party would form a “united force to ensure that we win the 2028 or 2030 elections effectively“. While he did not explicitly advocate for extending Bio’s term, the reference to 2030 sparked public anxiety about a possible delay.

Mambu noted that Sierra Leone’s electoral calendar has been altered before, citing the Ebola crisis, which pushed the 2017 elections to 2018. However, he did not confirm any government intention to seek an extension.

The Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone and President Bio himself have repeatedly confirmed that the next presidential election is scheduled for 2028. Bio has publicly ruled out seeking a third term.

Tunis also dismissed rumours that the APC is plotting to unseat Bio in favour of former flagbearer Dr Samura Kamara, calling such claims “unfounded”. He detailed the APC’s ongoing preparations for the 2028 polls, including developing a party manifesto before selecting a flagbearer—a first for the party.

Any change to the 2028 election timetable would require a lawful constitutional and electoral basis.