Freetown, Sierra Leone – The main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) has voiced serious concerns over the delay of the 2025 Population and Housing Census, warning that the decision risks undermining the credibility of the process and may be politically motivated.
At a press conference held in Freetown, top APC officials, including National Deputy Chairman Amb. Alhaji Osman Foday Yansaneh and Census Technical Committee Chairman Leonard Balogun Koroma, addressed what they described as the politicisation of the census by the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP). While reaffirming the party’s commitment to a credible and development-focused census, the APC expressed skepticism over the government’s motives for postponing the exercise to 2026.
“Our concern is not just about timelines, but about integrity,” said Yansaneh. “We support a census that provides accurate data for planning and development—not one driven by partisan interests.”
The APC argued that the postponement could delay the return to a constituency-based electoral system, as recommended by the Tripartite Committee.
The party has set up its own Census Technical Committee to provide oversight and collaborate with Statistics Sierra Leone and other stakeholders.
In a strongly worded statement, Koroma called on international development partners to maintain vigilance in their support. “Their goodwill must not be used to legitimise inefficiency or political manipulation,” he cautioned.
The party’s criticism draws heavily on findings from a January 2025 United Nations Technical Assessment, which cited major preparation gaps, including a lack of a census project document, incomplete mapping, recruitment delays, and a \$30.5 million funding shortfall. The APC alleges these failures were not accidental, but politically orchestrated.
“It was a trap,” Koroma claimed. “The SLPP government created the conditions for failure to avoid implementing a more democratic system.”
Legal experts within the APC, including Secretary General Lansana Dumbuya Esq., also weighed in, citing constitutional implications. He referenced Section 33 of the 1991 Constitution and the Tripartite Committee’s recommendation that census data used for electoral boundaries must be published at least 24 months before a general election.
“This delay undermines that requirement, making it difficult to revert to constituency-based elections by 2028,” Dumbuya noted.
Despite the criticism, the APC reiterated its willingness to support a transparent and effective census.
“We are not against the census,” Koroma clarified. “We are against its misuse. This data must serve the people, not the politicians.”
Census exercises in Sierra Leone have historically been fraught with controversy, including the 2021 mid-term census, which drew criticism from both local and international observers. Experts have long cautioned that in transitional democracies, censuses often become political battlegrounds rather than neutral tools of governance.
The APC’s latest stance presents a firm but measured call for accountability and national responsibility.
“This is about safeguarding the future,” Yansaneh said. “Let’s ensure Sierra Leone plans with integrity, governs with facts, and includes every citizen fairly.”
As the new census date approaches, attention now turns to the government and Statistics Sierra Leone to restore public confidence in a process that remains vital for development, democracy, and national cohesion.
