The opposition All People’s Congress (APC) has issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding the reversal of Edmond Alpha’s appointment as Chief Electoral Commissioner and Chairperson of the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL), warning that it may withdraw from governance arrangements established under the Agreement for National Unity.
The decision followed an emergency meeting of the party’s National Advisory Committee (NAC), which unanimously rejected the appointment, arguing that it risks deepening mistrust in the country’s electoral system at a time when reforms are still under discussion.
The APC said its elected officials only resumed participation in Parliament and local councils under the Agreement for National Unity, which created the Tripartite Committee to address disputes arising from the 2023 elections and to recommend reforms aimed at restoring public confidence in the electoral process.
Central to the party’s objection is the legal framework governing the appointment. Under Section 32(3) of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone, the President has the authority to appoint the Chief Electoral Commissioner, subject to parliamentary approval. The APC argues that proceeding with an appointment under the existing constitutional provisions, before key reforms are implemented, risks reinforcing public distrust in the electoral system rather than resolving it.
The party also referenced Recommendation 36 of the Tripartite Committee, which calls for amendments to Section 32(3) of the Constitution to establish an independent search and nomination committee responsible for vetting and recommending candidates for the position. According to the APC, such a mechanism would help strengthen the independence and credibility of the Electoral Commission.
Concerns over the appointment have also been raised by legal commentators and civil society actors. Lawyer and activist Basita Michael questioned the timing and process of the nomination, while the Lawyers’ Society called for broader consultation before proceeding with such a significant appointment. The Sierra Leone Bar Association has also faced public scrutiny after endorsing Alpha’s nomination early in the process, with critics arguing that the move risked undermining perceptions of neutrality within the legal community.
In its statement, the APC maintained that it had previously raised concerns about Alpha’s credibility and post-election posture, as well as what it described as the broader perception of continuity with a disputed electoral past. The party argued that moving forward with the appointment signals an intention to retain contested electoral structures rather than rebuild institutional trust.
The party warned that failure to reverse the appointment within 48 hours could lead to its withdrawal from governance structures linked to the national unity agreement, a move that could further strain political relations in Sierra Leone as electoral reform discussions continue.
