Freetown, Sierra Leone — Presidential Spokesman Alpha Kanu has firmly stated that President Julius Maada Bio does not have the authority to remove Edmond Sylvester Alpha as Chairman of the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL), insisting that any such action must strictly follow constitutional procedures.
In an exclusive interview with AYV News, Kanu clarified that the removal of an Electoral Commissioner is governed by Section 32(8) of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone. This provision allows the President to remove a commissioner only for inability to perform the functions of the office (whether due to infirmity of mind or body or any other cause) or for gross misconduct, following a defined legal process. He stressed that the President cannot act arbitrarily outside this framework.
Kanu defended the government’s position, asserting there has been no breach of constitutional duty in the appointment or retention of the ECSL Chairman.
He noted that while the recommendations of the Tripartite Committee, formed after the disputed 2023 general elections, and the subsequent Agreement for National Unity provide important guidance for governance and electoral reforms, they are not legally binding on the President.
“What has President Bio done wrong?” Kanu asked rhetorically. He added that the President remains committed to national dialogue and the full implementation of key recommendations aimed at strengthening democratic processes and restoring public confidence ahead of the 2028 elections.
The controversy stems from President Bio’s appointment of Edmond Sylvester Alpha as Chief Electoral Commissioner and Chairman of the ECSL. Following consultations with leaders of registered political parties, Parliament approved the nomination on 27 February 2026 (with the APC boycotting the session). President Bio subsequently swore Alpha into office at State House in early March 2026.
The main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) has strongly rejected the appointment, describing it as lacking transparency, a breach of ongoing electoral reform commitments under the Tripartite process, and a threat to confidence in the electoral system.
The party issued a 48-hour ultimatum for the appointment’s withdrawal, threatened nationwide peaceful protests and a boycott of governance structures, and withdrew its parliamentarians from proceedings related to ECSL leadership debates.
Kanu criticised the APC’s walkout, arguing that the opposition missed a valuable opportunity to raise its concerns formally in Parliament.
“They should have stayed in Parliament and made their points known to the world. Walking out does not help the democratic process,” he said.
The ECSL, which oversees voter registration, the conduct of presidential, parliamentary, and local elections, and referenda, plays a pivotal role in the country’s democracy. Its independence is constitutionally protected, with commissioners serving five-year terms and removable only through specified procedures.
As debates continue, both the government and opposition face calls from civil society, legal observers, and development partners to resolve the impasse through sustained dialogue and strict adherence to the Constitution.
The newly appointed Chairman, Edmond Sylvester Alpha, a veteran election administrator with prior experience as Southern Region Electoral Commissioner and Director of Training and Civic Education, has already extended an invitation for dialogue with the APC, though the party’s response remains pending.
Attention now focuses on whether further parliamentary, judicial, or mediated interventions will emerge, or if renewed talks under the Agreement for National Unity can help bridge the divide and safeguard public trust in Sierra Leone’s electoral institutions ahead of the 2028 polls.
