Freetown 23rd February 2026– The All People’s Congress (APC) Internal Elections Management Committee (IEMC) has issued a preliminary statement on the party’s nationwide lower-level elections held on Saturday, 21st February 2026, describing the exercise as largely peaceful and transparent despite isolated challenges.
According to the IEMC, elections were conducted across 446 wards in Sierra Leone, with members voting to fill 4,014 positions in line with the APC Constitution of March 2022. Trained coordinators, presiding officers, and polling staff were deployed to all centers, while ballot papers, boxes, and certified voter registers were distributed in advance.
Polling began between 9:00 a.m. and noon in most centers, though some remote areas experienced minor logistical delays. Voting was conducted by secret ballot, with only verified members allowed to participate. Candidate agents and accredited observers were present at many centers, and counting was done openly at polling stations.
The Committee commended the discipline of party members, aspirants, security personnel, and election officials, noting that the process was generally orderly. However, it acknowledged reports of disputes over voter eligibility, candidate listings, and procedural compliance in a few wards. In some cases, polling was briefly suspended to restore order.
The IEMC stressed that all complaints and petitions will be addressed through the party’s dispute resolution mechanisms, with reruns or corrective measures recommended where necessary.
Provisional results are currently being collated, but the Committee emphasized that only results certified and declared by the IEMC will be considered official. It urged members and the public to disregard unofficial tallies circulating on social media.
In its statement, the IEMC expressed appreciation to the APC National Secretariat, regional and district executives, party members, candidates, the Sierra Leone Police, and the media for their cooperation.
The Committee concluded that the February 21 elections marked “another significant milestone in strengthening internal democracy within the APC” and reaffirmed its commitment to impartiality, transparency, and adherence to the party’s constitution. A comprehensive final report, including certified results and detailed observations, will be released after collation and adjudication of outstanding matters.
