Freetown – Members of Parliament from the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) staged a walkout from the Well of Parliament on Monday, 10 August 2026, in protest over the Speaker’s ruling on the voting threshold required for decisions on the Constitution of Sierra Leone (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
The APC Parliamentary Caucus declared that it would not take part in any process that, in its view, fails to meet the constitutionally mandated two-thirds majority for amending the 1991 Constitution.
The walkout followed a ruling by the Speaker that Section 108 of the Constitution,which requires the support of not less than two-thirds of all Members of Parliament on the second and third readings of a constitutional amendment bill, does not apply at the present stage of proceedings.
The Speaker argued that the decisions currently before the House do not themselves alter the existing Constitution, and that a simple majority under Section 91 is therefore sufficient.
Minority Leader Hon. Abdul Kargbo told the House: “We cannot sit here and see 96 MPs decide on the Constitution of Sierra Leone, so we are walking out and leave you to decide.”
The APC maintains that any constitutional amendment process must strictly observe the two-thirds threshold to be valid. The party has repeatedly stressed that ordinary constitutional amendments need the affirmative votes of at least two-thirds of all Members, while certain entrenched provisions additionally require a national referendum.
The development marks a sharp escalation in the already tense debate over the far-reaching constitutional reforms. The Bill, piloted by Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Alpha Sesay, seeks major changes to Sierra Leone’s electoral system ahead of the 2028 elections. Key proposals include lowering the presidential victory threshold from 55 per cent of valid votes to a simple majority (50 per cent plus one), combined with a geographic spread requirement of at least 20 per cent of votes in two-thirds of the country’s districts; introducing proportional representation for parliamentary seats; and establishing a minimum 30 per cent quota for women in political nominations.
President Julius Maada Bio on Sunday urged lawmakers to pass the Bill, describing it as the product of years of consultation and calling on Members to vote in the national interest rather than along party lines. The ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) supports the reforms, arguing they will reduce the cost, tension and security risks associated with run-off elections. The APC, however, insists on retaining the 55 per cent threshold, saying it forces candidates to build broader national support and confers greater legitimacy on the eventual winner.
Parliament has been locked in prolonged and often heated debate on the Bill since late July. The latest walkout leaves the process in a major political standoff and raises fresh questions about how the constitutional amendment requirements will be applied as lawmakers continue their deliberations.
