Freetown, Sierra Leone — The Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC) has issued fresh directives to the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC), requiring the party to compile and publicly display comprehensive lists of candidates for its pending constituency-level internal elections within 72 hours.
In a directive dated Thursday, 9 July 2026, the PPRC acted on a formal complaint from Hon. Osman Abdal Timbo, a Member of Parliament and prominent APC flagbearer aspirant, who raised concerns about the handling of uncontested positions in the party’s ongoing internal electoral process.
Following hearings that included submissions from Hon. Timbo, the APC National Secretariat, and the party’s Internal Elections Management Committee (IEMC), the Commission observed that the APC Constitution of 2022 does not explicitly mandate the publication of candidates’ lists or detailed procedures for unopposed candidates. Nevertheless, the PPRC stressed that publishing such lists represents a key electoral best practice. It enables party members to be fully informed about contestants ahead of voting, thereby enhancing transparency and participation.
Key Directives Issued by PPRC
The Commission has instructed the APC to:
– Compile and publish the complete list of candidates for all pending constituency elections nationwide within 72 hours.
– Ensure lists are not published electronically only; they must also be physically displayed at APC offices across all districts to guarantee broad access for party members.
These measures aim to promote fairness, openness, and informed decision-making in the APC’s internal polls.
Context of APC’s Internal Process
The directives come after the APC deferred its constituency elections, which were originally set for Saturday, 4 July 2026. The party has since targeted Saturday, 11 July 2026, for the polls as part of preparations for its National Delegates Conference.
In recent days, the APC National Secretariat, led by National Secretary-General Lansana Dumbuya, Esq., published a list of candidates and republished the Register of Eligible Voters. However, the list primarily featured electronically submitted nominations, with manual submissions requiring additional verification on election day per earlier PPRC guidance. The party had set a noon deadline on 8 July 2026 for objections to the voters’ register.
Hon. Timbo’s intervention highlights ongoing internal debates within the APC as it reorganizes at the grassroots level ahead of future national elections, including the 2028 presidential race. The party has faced various challenges in unifying its structures following the disputed 2023 general elections.
The PPRC, established under the 2022 Political Parties Regulation Act, plays a key oversight role in ensuring that internal party processes align with democratic standards and the national legal framework. Its latest action underscores the regulator’s commitment to best practices even where party constitutions may be silent.
Party officials have been urged to comply promptly to allow the internal electoral timetable to proceed smoothly and peacefully.
No immediate response from the APC Secretariat to the new 72-hour deadline was available at the time of reporting.
