Why APC Should Participate in Governance and End The Boycott
By Lansana Fofanah
In a press release dated 12th March 2026, the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party, announced its decision to withdraw from all participations in parliament and other government functionaries.
The decision was reached after series of engagements between the party’s members of parliament, and proposed nominees for various positions in the party regarding the appointment of the Electoral Commissioner of Sierra Leone Edmund Sylvester Alpha whose appointment they say goes against their interest and the “lack of progress in the implementing the Tripartite Committee recommendations”.
Members of the APC immediately opposed the appointment of the ECSL boss, describing him as not competent and credible to conduct the 2028 general election.
This led to a wide range of consultation among political parties by the government to have their views on the said appointment.
According to the report, 12 out of the 14 registered political parties endorsed his appointment based on his long-standing experience in electioneering process in Sierra Leone.
However, the APC didn’t take part in his parliamentary vetting and approval. And finally, he has been endorsed as the constitutionally appointed ECSL boss after subscribing to oath at State House.
There have been several legal arguments put forward by the APC justifying why Edmund Alpha’s appointed should be reconsidered. But that would be a precedence to happen since there has never been a situation where an Electoral Commissioner was appointed, went through parliament and Presidential endorsement and later recalled because of concerns.
The APC members of Parliament must know that, being a parliamentarian goes beyond party politics. Every of our parliamentarians must know that, they are in parliament at the desire of the electorates, and boycotting any sitting in parliament is boycotting the trust and confidence people have in them.
Since the APC MPs decided to boycott Parliament, sittings have been going on, bills have been debated and approved. This in many ways will affect the lives of their constituents since they are not there to checkmate or raise red flags on some critical bills and contracts that will be binding after approval.
Of course, all the appointments of past electoral commissioners were not free from controversies, and no opposition party can be pleased with any appointment of such nature by an incumbent government.
Christiana Thorpe was appointed in 2005 by late President Ahmed Tejan Kabba at the displeasure of the APC. But it turned out to be the biggest opportunity to see the return of the APC in governance.
Christaina Thorpe was known to have nullified thousands of votes from Kailahun district, the stronghold of the SLPP. She even challenged the SLPP to ‘go police’ as nothing would have stopped her from calling the result.
After her, Nfa Alie Koroma was appointed by former President Ernest Bai Koroma. Hos appointed like others faced criticism from the then opposition SLPP.
He conducted the 2018 general election and announced President Julius Maada Bio as the winner.
The wish of the APC members in 2018 was for Nfa Alie to do the biddings for Samura to win. But facts and figures don’t lie.
APC should be thinking of putting its house in order ahead of 2028 and not to cry over the appointment of Edmund Sylvester Alpha.
Even if Mufti Menk is to be appointed as ECSL boss today, the APC would still reject his appointment citing political reasons.
Edmund Alpha’s appointment is irreversible as far as I know. The best thing the APC should do is to focus on the bigger picture, conducts its remaining internal elections and prepare for 2028.
He has already called on ECSL staff to work hard and prove doubters wrong. That alone is enough to allow him to work and see how he conducts himself or the 2028 election.
