APC Rejects Controversial Passage of Constitutional Amendment Bill

APC Rejects Controversial Passage of Constitutional Amendment Bill

The All Peoples Congress (APC) has officially distanced itself from the reported passage of the Constitution of Sierra Leone (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which occurred on August 10, 2026. In a strongly worded statement, the party condemned the proceedings, labeling the legislative move as inconsistent with established constitutional safeguards.

The controversy centers on a ruling by the Speaker of Parliament, who allowed the Bill to pass via a simple majority while acknowledging the need for Supreme Court interpretation. 

The APC contended that this decision directly violates Section 108(2)(b) of the Constitution, which mandates a two-thirds majority—or 100 votes out of 149 members—for constitutional alterations. The party noted that only 96 members supported the Bill, rendering the vote insufficient.

APC leadership argued that the Speaker had previously recognized the two-thirds requirement and called his reversal a serious procedural inconsistency. 

They maintained that the prudent course of action would have been to secure judicial clarity before proceeding with the vote. The party further asserted that the supremacy of the Constitution ensures that parliamentary rules or speaker rulings cannot override express voting thresholds.

In protest, APC Members of Parliament withdrew from the session to avoid legitimizing what they described as a flawed process. 

The party concluded by urging the government to ensure strict constitutional compliance, emphasizing that no political body stands above the supreme law of the land.

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