The All Peoples Congress (APC) has formally challenged a fine and allegation of breaching the Political Parties Act levelled against it by the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC), accusing the regulatory body of “selective enforcement” and a “troubling” lack of neutrality.

In a strongly-worded letter dated November 18, 2025, the party questioned the evidence behind the PPRC’s allegation that its District Chairman, Hon. Lahai Marah, contravened Section 39(1) of the Political Parties Act No. 25 of 2022.

“The APC wishes to state clearly that it is not aware of any verified or authenticated incident involving the said District Chairman that would constitute a breach,” wrote APC National Secretary-General Lansana Dumbuya, Esq.

The party argued that the current political climate is rife with “doctored audio recordings, misrepresented snippets of conversations, and manipulated social media artefacts,” and it is therefore “incumbent on all regulatory bodies, not least the PPRC, to exercise the highest degree of scrutiny before initiating regulatory action.”

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The APC’s response quickly escalated from disputing the specific allegation to levying a broader charge of partiality against the PPRC. The letter expressed “concern that similar or even more alarming public statements made by prominent members of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP)… have not elicited the same level of urgency or sanction.”

“This pattern creates an unfortunate perception of partiality and selective enforcement, which is inconsistent with the PPRC’s statutory mandate,” Dumbuya stated. He reminded the Commission that its legitimacy rests on its ability to function as a “neutral referee” and that “neutrality is not optional; it is the foundation of its mandate.”

To ensure transparency and due process, the APC made two formal demands:

  • That the PPRC provide the “full, unedited, and verifiable evidence, including metadata” upon which the allegation is based.
  • That no fine or sanction be imposed until this evidence is shared, its authenticity established, and the APC is given a chance to respond.

The party committed to triggering its own internal disciplinary mechanisms if “genuine, verified information” is provided.

Despite the strong rebuttal, the APC sought to reaffirm its commitment to political stability, noting it “remains fully committed to the Joint Agreement signed on 11th November 2025.” However, it concluded that “all signatories and institutions must uphold the same standard of fairness and restraint.”