President Bio Refers Constitutional Amendment Petition to Supreme Court
President Julius Maada Bio has referred a petition regarding the Constitution of Sierra Leone (Amendment) Bill, 2025 to the Supreme Court for an official judicial opinion. The decision follows growing legal challenges and intense public backlash over Parliament's controversial approval of the bill on August 10, 2026.
The controversy stems from whether Parliament achieved the mandatory two-thirds majority required under Section 108 of the 1991 Constitution.
The opposition All People's Congress (APC), alongside MPs Hon. Abdul Kargbo and Hon. Daniel Koroma, had also filed an Originating Notice of Motion in the Supreme Court.
Many argued that the Speaker improperly used general voting procedures to bypass explicit constitutional thresholds, encroaching upon judicial review.
Immense pressure has mounted on President Bio from diverse stakeholders, including civil society organizations such as the Institute of Governance Reform and the Sierra Leone Labour Congress, all urging him to withhold assent until the apex court resolves the dispute.
By seeking a formal advisory opinion, President Bio aims to clarify the constitutional boundaries of legislative authority before taking further executive action on the proposed reforms.
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