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The main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) has formally rejected government proposals to lower the presidential election victory threshold from 55 percent to 50 percent, warning the move threatens the integrity of Sierra Leone’s democracy.
Addressing a large crowd at Attouga Minni Stadium in Freetown, APC Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Alhaji Osman Foday Yansaneh, stated the party would not compromise on electoral standards.
He argued that the proposed amendment to the 1991 Constitution, which currently requires a 55 percent majority for an outright win, risks destabilizing the country’s political landscape.
“We are committed to defending democracy and the will of the people,” Yansaneh declared, cautioning that the party is prepared to mobilize peaceful nationwide protests if the reforms are pushed through without consensus.
The tension stems from the 2025 Constitutional Amendment Bill, which seeks to repeal the 55 percent requirement. Under the proposed Clause 42(2)(e), a candidate could win the presidency outright by securing a simple majority of total valid votes, provided they also garner at least 20 percent of the vote in two-thirds of the country’s districts.
The Institute for Legal Research and Advocacy for Justice (ILRAJ) and other civil society groups have criticized the bill, noting it deviates from the Tripartite Committee’s Recommendation 53. That committee had suggested a standard of 50 percent plus one vote nationally, combined with 25 percent support in at least half the districts.
Critics fear the government’s lower threshold could allow a candidate with a narrow mandate to claim the presidency, potentially leading to disputed results and weakened legitimacy.
Beyond the threshold issue, Ambassador Yansaneh called for an immediate restructuring of the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL). He proposed a high-level oversight body, co-chaired by the APC and the government, to supervise future electoral reforms.
The opposition leader also condemned plans to unilaterally impose a proportional representation system for the 2028 elections, accusing the administration of sidelining key stakeholders, including the Council of Paramount Chiefs.
Citing the postponement of the national census as another critical failure, Yansaneh appealed to international development partners to facilitate urgent dialogue between the government and opposition parties. He emphasized that credible census data and inclusive consultations are prerequisites for a free and fair election in 2028.
