Veteran Activist El Tayyib-Bah Advocates For Executive Power Sharing Under Proportional Representation

76-year-old veteran activist, Mr. Mohamed El Tayyib-Bah, on Tuesday 12th May 2026, convened an extraordinary press conference at the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) office on Campbell Street in Freetown, where he called for a fundamental shift in the country’s system of governance.

Mr. El Tayyib-Bah, a former student activist and leader, retired senior police officer, former peace mediator, and human rights defender based in the United Kingdom, used the engagement to strongly advocate for the adoption of a Proportional Representation (PR) system at the executive level. He said he is implacably opposed to the winner-takes-all system, which he argued has long defined Sierra Leone’s politics.

According to him, the current system “turns political leaders into fugitives and elections into a theatre of war,” fostering fear, hostility, and deep political divisions among citizens. He described the winner-takes-all model as a foreign construct that does not reflect Sierra Leone’s cultural values and societal realities.

“Democracy as we practice it today was created by foreigners. We must develop a system that works for us and aligns with our ethos and DNA,” he stated, adding that the existing system spreads hate and negative traits among citizens, especially during elections.

He proposed a proportional representation model of governance in which power would be shared among political parties, including within the executive arm of government. He emphasized that his advocacy goes beyond legislative reforms and seeks to institutionalize inclusive leadership at the highest level.

Mr. El Tayyib-Bah maintained that a PR system would enhance accountability, reduce corruption, and create a more stable political environment capable of attracting investors and boosting tourism. He noted that when all political stakeholders are given a stake in governance, tensions are reduced, and national unity is strengthened.

He stressed that he is not representing any political party but is acting as an independent activist seeking to promote a united government free from stigma and confrontation. He called on the media to support his campaign to end what he described as an “archaic political system” and replace it with one that allows members of all political parties to thrive and be respected.

In a direct appeal to the main opposition, All People’s Congress (APC), Mr. El Tayyib-Bah urged the party to engage in the process of structuring a proportional representation system now, rather than relying on hopes of winning the 2028 elections. Drawing on his own political experience, he disclosed that he contested the 2012 elections under the APC ticket and believes the proposed system would benefit all stakeholders in Sierra Leone’s political landscape.

Sierra Leone’s electoral system has evolved over the years, largely centering on a winner-takes-all approach, particularly in presidential elections where a candidate must secure 55 percent of the vote to avoid a runoff. Parliamentary elections have traditionally been conducted on a constituency basis, though the country has experimented with proportional representation at different times, including during the post-war 2002 elections and more recently in the 2023 elections when a district block proportional representation system was adopted. Despite these variations, executive governance has remained firmly rooted in a winner-takes-all structure.

Mr. El Tayyib-Bah concluded by reiterating that adopting a proportional representation system with executive power sharing would mark a significant step toward inclusive governance, political stability, and sustainable national development in Sierra Leone.