Sierra Leone’s main opposition party, the All Peoples Congress (APC), said on Tuesday it would maintain its withdrawal from governance processes, citing concerns over the appointment of the country’s new electoral chief.
In a statement issued after attending a meeting convened by the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC) in Freetown, the APC said it opposed the appointment of Edmond Sylvester Alpha as Chief Electoral Commissioner of the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL).
The meeting, held at the Brookfields Hotel, was attended by Attorney General and Minister of Justice representatives, ECOWAS officials and other international and development partners, the party said.
The APC said the discussions focused on the status of implementing recommendations from the Tripartite Committee established under the Agreement for National Unity, aimed at addressing disputes arising from Sierra Leone’s 2023 elections.
The party said it viewed Alpha as being closely associated with the “deeply contested and discredited” 2023 electoral process, adding that his appointment undermined public confidence in the electoral body and threatened the credibility of future elections.
“As such, the APC firmly restated its decision to withdraw the participation of its elected officials from Parliament and Local Councils across the country until such time as Mr. Edmond Sylvester Alpha vacates the office,” the statement said.
The APC said its position was guided by a commitment to electoral integrity, constitutional governance and democratic legitimacy, rather than partisan interests.
The party added that it remained open to re-engaging in the governance process if meaningful steps were taken to restore confidence in electoral reforms and uphold commitments under the Agreement for National Unity.
The APC reiterated its commitment to pursuing what it described as peaceful, lawful and democratic means in defending the will of the people.
