2028 Election Rigging Plot Allegedly Exposed
A storm of controversy has erupted across Sierra Leone following the appointment of Alex Lanin Saffa as the Eastern Region Electoral Commissioner by President Julius Maada Bio—a move critics are calling a calculated ploy to rig the 2028 general elections in favour of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP).
Opposition lawmakers, civil society groups, and political analysts have raised serious concerns about the credibility, transparency, and legality of the appointment. According to sources familiar with the vetting process, Mr. Saffa has been receiving a salary from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, an arrangement seen as a direct violation of the constitutional provisions that guarantee the independence of the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL). Such a financial link to the executive branch, critics argue, compromises his neutrality and casts doubt on his suitability to oversee free and fair elections.
“This is not just a bad appointment—it is a direct threat to our democracy,” said one opposition MP during a heated parliamentary debate. “How can someone who is on government payroll be expected to conduct an impartial election process?”
The All People’s Congress (APC) and other opposition parties have condemned the move, alleging that it forms part of a broader scheme by the SLPP to manipulate the outcome of the 2028 elections. Many are calling for the immediate withdrawal of the appointment and for a more transparent and merit-based selection process that respects the independence of the ECSL as enshrined in the 1991 Constitution.
Civil society organisations have also weighed in, demanding that Parliament and international observers take note of what they describe as an “early warning sign” of electoral malpractice. The integrity of Sierra Leone’s democratic process, they argue, is at stake.
Meanwhile, public confidence in the electoral system continues to wane, especially in the Eastern Region where Mr. Saffa is expected to preside. Residents have expressed fears that the upcoming election may already be compromised before the campaigns even begin.
As the nation moves closer to 2028, the spotlight is now on the ECSL and the presidency. Will the democratic institutions of Sierra Leone rise to the challenge and safeguard the integrity of the electoral process? Or will this appointment mark the beginning of a carefully orchestrated plan to undermine the will of the people?
Only time will tell—but for many Sierra Leoneans, the alarm bells are already ringing.
