-APC MPs Demands
In a bold and uncompromising stance, Members of Parliament from the main opposition party, the All People’s Congress (APC), have issued a strong call for the immediate resignation of the Clerk of Parliament, Hon. Paran Tarawally. The call, they argue, is grounded in the provisions of the Constitution of Sierra Leone, which they claim has been violated by the continued presence of Mr. Tarawally in office.
Speaking during a press engagement on the matter, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Hon. Abdul Kargbo, made it unequivocally clear that the APC caucus no longer recognizes Paran Tarawally as the legitimate Clerk of Parliament.
According to Hon. Kargbo, the APC has reliable information that the Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Dr. Abass Chernor Bundu, is considering placing Mr. Tarawally on administrative leave rather than facilitating a proper constitutional process that would lead to his resignation or removal.
“The constitution is very clear,” Hon. Kargbo said. “When certain thresholds are crossed, the appropriate action must be resignation—not an internal arrangement like sending someone on leave. That would be a disservice to parliamentary integrity and constitutional democracy.”
The APC MPs insisted that the Office of the Clerk of Parliament is not one to be treated with levity or political bias, as it is central to the effective and impartial functioning of the legislature. They emphasized that a Clerk who has lost the confidence of a significant portion of the elected representatives should not continue in office, especially when there are constitutional and ethical concerns surrounding his tenure.
In what appears to be a dramatic turn of events, the APC delegation warned that if their demands are not met in accordance with the constitution, they will temporarily withdraw from all parliamentary proceedings. “If this matter is not resolved constitutionally and urgently, we will have no choice but to stay out of Parliament. We cannot continue to participate in a process we believe is flawed and undermines the rule of law,” Hon. Kargbo added.
This development brings further political tension to an already divided legislative environment, raising questions about the future functionality of Parliament if opposition members follow through with their threat.
As the political standoff looms, all eyes are now on the Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Sengepoh Solomon Thomas (Deputy Speaker currently presiding in the absence of Speaker Thomas), who has been urged by the APC to act in accordance with the constitution and ensure the integrity of the legislative institution is preserved.
