The Lawyers’ Society has called on the Government of Sierra Leone to suspend the proposed appointment of Mr. Edmond Sylvester Alpha as Chief Electoral Commissioner, pending the completion of ongoing constitutional reform efforts.
In a statement issued following reports of a letter dated 10 February 2026 from the Office of the President, the Society expressed concern over the timing of the proposed appointment.
The letter reportedly sought the views of registered political parties on Mr. Alpha’s nomination, in line with Section 32(3) of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone (as amended), which requires the President to consult all registered political parties before appointing a Chief Electoral Commissioner.
Mr. Alpha currently serves as a commissioner at the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL).
While acknowledging that the consultation process aligns with constitutional requirements, the Lawyers’ Society argued that proceeding with the appointment at this stage risks undermining ongoing constitutional review discussions.
It noted that both the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) Report and the Agreement for National Unity, commonly referred to as the Tripartite Report, recommend reforms to the existing appointment procedure.
According to the Society, the two reports propose the establishment of an independent Search and Nomination Committee to identify and recommend qualified candidates for appointment to the ECSL and the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC).
The Society specifically cited Recommendation 36 of the Tripartite Report and Recommendation 8.10 of the CRC Report, which advocate for the creation of such a body.
The statement warned that appointing a new Chief Electoral Commissioner before implementing these recommendations could weaken the credibility of the reform process and create doubts about the government’s commitment to electoral reform.
The Society also referenced Recommendation 6 of the Tripartite Report, which calls for an external functional review of the ECSL. It cautioned that moving ahead with the appointment before undertaking this review could repeat concerns related to transparency and accountability that emerged during the 2023 general elections.
“Such actions risk reinforcing previous shortcomings rather than advancing accountability and reform within the ECSL,” the statement said.
The Lawyers’ Society therefore urged the government to reconsider the timing of the appointment, finalize the constitutional review process, and implement the agreed reforms under the Tripartite Agreement, particularly those relating to appointments within the ECSL and the PPRC.
It maintained that full adherence to the reform framework is critical to strengthening public trust in Sierra Leone’s electoral system and democratic institutions.
