Sierra Leone opposition challenges Constitution Amendment Bill in Supreme Court

The All People’s Congress (APC), Sierra Leone’s main opposition party, is seeking legal redress from the Supreme Court regarding the passage of the Constitution of Sierra Leone (Amendment) Bill, 2025. The APC argues the parliamentary process was unconstitutional, specifically challenging the voting threshold used to pass the Bill. The party maintains that Section 108(2)(b) requires a two-thirds majority of all elected Members of Parliament, which would necessitate 100 votes out of 149, rather than the general majority provision applied by the Speaker of Parliament.

In response to the growing controversy, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Commissioner Francis Ben Kaifala has advised the Supreme Court to consider exercising judicial restraint. In a statement titled “Dangerously Educated Opinion,” Kaifala suggested that the Court could lawfully choose not to issue a substantive ruling on the matter after reviewing the arguments.

The Bill remains a highly contentious issue, with critics and civil society groups expressing concerns that the amendments could undermine the direct election of Members of Parliament.