The All People's Congress (APC) has completed its lower-level elections in 15 of Sierra Leone's 17 administrative districts. However, unresolved petitions and legal disputes have prevented the party from concluding the electoral process in Kambia and Karene. This development was made known during proceedings at the High Court in Freetown on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
The National Coordinator of the APC's Independent Elections Management Committee (IEMC), Patrick Hassan Kamara, provided updates on the progress and challenges affecting the exercise. He confirmed that outstanding petitions had delayed voting in the two districts. The delays have raised concerns about the party's ability to comply with a court directive requiring the completion of its remaining lower-level elections within 21 days.
According to Kamara, unresolved electoral disputes remain the principal obstacle to completing the party's lower-level elections in Kambia and Karene. Petitions involving Wards 220 and 227 in Kambia are currently before the party's Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). The disputes must be addressed before elections can proceed in the affected areas.
The outstanding matters have complicated the party's electoral timetable as officials work to complete the process in accordance with the court's instructions. The High Court had previously directed that the party's remaining lower-level elections be completed within 21 days. However, the unresolved disputes in Kambia and Karene have created uncertainty over whether the deadline can be met.
The court proceedings highlighted the difficulties involved in balancing the need to complete elections promptly with the requirement to address complaints and ensure procedural fairness. Kamara disclosed that election personnel arrived late at some polling locations, particularly in remote communities, causing voting to continue beyond the scheduled closing hours.
The Chairman of the Independent Election Complaints Board, Ibrahim Sorie, reported that members of the board had received threats, intimidating messages and verbal abuse following decisions on electoral disputes. The reported intimidation has raised concerns about the pressures facing officials tasked with resolving disputes. Despite the challenges, Sorie indicated that the board expected to conclude the remaining district and constituency hearings by the end of the week.
Kamara proposed reforms aimed at strengthening the credibility and administration of future APC internal elections. The proposed reforms reflect the broader challenges political parties face when organising competitive internal elections involving multiple candidates and competing interests. Justice Adrian Fisher indicated that additional court directions would be issued in the coming days to facilitate the completion of the outstanding elections.
Key points
- The APC has completed lower-level elections in 15 districts but faces challenges in Kambia and Karene due to legal disputes.
- The party must address outstanding petitions and ensure procedural fairness to complete the electoral process.
- Proposed reforms aim to strengthen the credibility and administration of future APC internal elections.
