Freetown, 2nd October 2025 — Sierra Leone’s main opposition party, the All Peoples Congress (APC), has officially rebuked the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), accusing the SLPP-led government of attempting to dismantle the country’s democratic framework through a series of controversial reforms.
In a strongly worded press statement released on Wednesday, the APC condemned proposals to expand the Proportional Representation (PR) electoral system, introduce executive power-sharing and unilaterally create new districts, moves the party described as “a dangerous attempt to create a de facto one-party rule.”
At the heart of the APC’s objections is the government’s push to institutionalize the PR system, which the party argues violates the 1991 Constitution’s preference for a constituency-based First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) model. “The PR system is only contemplated in exceptional circumstances,” the statement reads, “and we are not in a crisis.”
The APC claims that recent nationwide consultations, conducted under Resolution 78 of the Tripartite Committee, revealed overwhelming public support for a return to the FPTP system. The party accuses the SLPP of ignoring this consensus and manipulating the process to entrench its political dominance.
The opposition also rejected proposals for executive power-sharing, describing them as a “ploy” rather than a genuine effort toward national cohesion. “This is not about unity,” said APC National Secretary-General Lansana Dumbuya. “It’s about consolidating control and neutralizing the opposition.”
Drawing parallels to Kenya’s post-election crisis in 2007, the APC warned that forced political arrangements could destabilize Sierra Leone’s fragile peace. “We cannot afford to create a recipe for chaos,” the statement cautioned.
The APC further criticized the government’s alleged plans to redraw district boundaries without public consultation or transparent criteria. The party called for evidence-based assessments and community input, arguing that administrative restructuring must be grounded in legal justification and demographic data.
“The legitimacy of any change rests on democratic practice,” the statement emphasized, warning against politically expedient decisions that bypass public scrutiny.
The APC’s statement also revisited the aftermath of the disputed 2023 elections, which led to the Bintumani Agreement and the formation of the Tripartite Committee. The party insists that the only path to peace lies in the full implementation of the committee’s recommendations, which include electoral reforms aimed at restoring credibility and transparency.
The main opposition called on civil society, religious leaders and the international community to take note of what it described as “dangerous developments” and to support efforts to safeguard Sierra Leone’s democracy. The party pledged to mobilize peaceful protests and resist any unconstitutional changes to the electoral system.
“Sierra Leone belongs to all its citizens,” the statement concluded, “not to a ruling party desperate to perpetuate its stay in power through constitutional fraud.”
