-Demands for Constituency-Based Electoral System
By John Marah
The Secretary General of the All People’s Congress (APC) Party, Lansana Dumbuya Esq., has strongly condemned the continued use of the Proportional Representation (PR) system in Sierra Leone’s electoral process. He called for the immediate restoration of the constituency-based electoral system, arguing that it is not only constitutionally mandated but also the most democratic and accountable method for electing Members of Parliament. This event took place at the party Headquarters Brookfields on the 25th June 2025. Speaking on behalf of the party, Dumbuya asserted that the PR system breaks the vital connection between the electorate and their representatives, thereby undermining accountability and local representation.
“The constituency-based system ensures that every elected Member of Parliament is directly accountable to a specific geographic community. It strengthens the democratic link between voters and those who represent them. The PR system destroys that bond, making MPs answerable to political parties rather than the people,” Dumbuya said.
He emphasized that, under the PR model, citizens are reduced to numbers in a national computation rather than empowered voters choosing specific leaders. Votes from Kambia, Kenema, Tonkolili and other regions are aggregated, and outcomes determined by complex mathematical formulas instead of direct voter choice.”This is not democracy. It’s disenfranchisement through calculation,” Dumbuya stated. “Our people want to know who represents them. They want someone they can hold accountable in their own communities.” The APC’s Secretary General further accused the current administration of favoring the PR system as a tool for political manipulation. According to him, the system allows for boundary mergers and vote distortions that can weaken the electoral chances of opposition parties—a practice he labeled as deliberate gerrymandering.
“This system gives the ruling party an unfair advantage by diluting opposition strongholds. It’s a form of electoral engineering that erodes trust in democratic governance,” he warned.
Dumbuya also expressed concerns about the accountability deficit created by th PR. He argued that MPs under this system have no constituency to return to, no local obligations to fulfill, and no citizens to answer directly to—resulting in detachment and absenteeism in parliamentary duties.
“We want a system that forces politicians to go back to the people—to listen, to deliver, and to be answerable. PR encourages politicians to operate from the shadows of party headquarters, far removed from the realities on the ground,” he said.
Raising alarms over the secrecy surrounding current electoral consultations, Dumbuya questioned the credibility of civil society engagements allegedly conducted by the Electoral Commission.
“We’ve been told civil society is being consulted. But which organizations? Where are these consultations happening? The process lacks transparency and excludes the public. This is not how democratic reform is done,” he added.
Dumbuya reaffirmed the APC’s resolve to fight for the return of a constituency-based system and warned that any further attempts to entrench PR would face strong resistance.
“Our democracy is not for sale. Our votes are not for manipulation. Sierra Leoneans will not be silenced. We call on all citizens to reject this imposed system and demand true representation. Sierra Leone is a democracy—not a dictatorship.”
He concluded with a call to action: “The time has come to defend constitutional order and restore electoral integrity. Let the people choose their leaders directly—community by community, vote by vote.”
