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Political commentator Dr. Sylvia Olayinka Blyden has argued that Sierra Leone’s next general elections must be held no later than Wednesday, 11 October 2028, based on her interpretation of the country’s constitutional provisions.
According to Dr. Blyden, the current Parliament, which first sat on 13 July 2023, will complete its five-year tenure on the morning of 13 July 2028. She argued that the Constitution permits a maximum of 90 days after the expiration of Parliament’s tenure for general elections to be conducted, making 11 October 2028 the latest possible election date.
Dr. Blyden expressed scepticism over expectations among some members of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and opposition All People’s Congress (APC) lawmakers that the electoral timeline could be extended beyond what she described as the constitutionally prescribed period.
Speaking in Krio, she remarked: “If na pan this Joblo Jabla Constitutional Amendment Bill una habope, good luck ya!”
Dr. Blyden said she had deliberately refrained from commenting extensively on the proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill 2025 because, in her view, it is likely to encounter significant legal challenges.
“I have not commented on the Constitutional Amendment Bill because it will soon reach a stage where it faces a critical obstacle to one of its primary intents—extending the tenure of this Parliament and President,” she said.
She further questioned whether Parliament has the constitutional authority to split a single gazetted Bill into two separate Acts without first re-publishing it as two distinct Bills, arguing that Section 106 of the Constitution does not permit such a process.
“I believe the answer is no,” she stated, adding that the Bill, in its current form, could face what she described as an “insurmountable roadblock.”
Describing the proposed legislation as “bizarre” and “jumbled-up,” Dr. Blyden referred to it as a “Joblo Jabla” Bill, arguing that it is inconsistent with what she believes is its intended objective of delaying the 2028 general elections.
She also stressed the importance of strong constitutional expertise within government, saying that a President should either possess a sound understanding of constitutional law or be supported by a highly competent Attorney General and legal team.
On the issue of women’s political representation, Dr. Blyden addressed recent calls for the adoption of the Proportional Representation (PR) system to guarantee at least 30 percent female representation in Parliament. While acknowledging the position of First Lady Dr. Fatima Maada Bio and other advocates, she said she disagreed with the proposal.
According to Dr. Blyden, Sierra Leone can achieve and sustain 30 percent women’s representation without amending entrenched constitutional provisions or adopting the PR system. She said she intends to outline alternative proposals, drawing comparisons with the late Hon. Pascal Egbenda’s advocacy for the District Block System.
Concluding her remarks, Dr. Blyden maintained that, based on her interpretation of the Constitution and the proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill, Sierra Leone’s next general elections must be held no later than Wednesday, 11 October 2028.
