Blyden Counters Presidential Spokesman Over APC Parliamentary Seat Replacement Threat

APC strongwomen , Sylvia Blyden, has pushed back against recent claims by Presidential Spokesman, Alhaji Alpha Khan, regarding the possible replacement of All People’s Congress (APC) Members of Parliament.

Her response follows a statement by Khan, who issued a 30-day ultimatum to the All People’s Congress, warning that failure by its MPs to resume participation in parliamentary proceedings could lead to their seats being reassigned to members of other political parties by the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone.

Khan argued that parliamentary seats ultimately belong to the people of Sierra Leone and are occupied by political parties based on electoral outcomes. He maintained that continued absenteeism by APC lawmakers could compel electoral authorities to act within the law to ensure representation for constituents.

However, Blyden strongly disagreed with that position, describing such a move as unconstitutional. Referencing provisions within Section 38A of the amended Constitution, she argued that attempts to replace APC MPs with individuals from other political parties—particularly those she described as “non-performing”—would amount to a “constitutional travesty.”

She also cited historical electoral practices, recalling that during the 2002 parliamentary elections, candidates—including those from various parties—were required to pay a refundable deposit as part of the nomination process. Although that specific law was repealed in 2012, Blyden noted that its underlying principle still reinforces the legitimacy and ownership of seats by duly elected representatives and their respective parties.

In her remarks, Blyden further responded to comments made by Alpha Kanu, whom she accused of attempting to exploit what she described as a legal lacuna in the Constitution to justify potential seat replacement.

As the 30-day ultimatum period progresses, attention now turns to how the APC and relevant state institutions will respond to the warning, and whether a legal resolution will be sought to clarify the matter.