All People’s Congress (APC) Chairman and Leader, Alhaji Osman Yansaneh, on Tuesday, 4th August 2026, returned to Parliament to join the party’s Members of Parliament as they continued deliberations on the proposed Constitution Amendment Bill.
Yansaneh had spent almost the entire day in Parliament on Monday, 3rd August, supporting APC lawmakers during the opening phase of the debate, which extended until midnight. His return to the House on Tuesday underscores his continued commitment to standing with the party’s parliamentary caucus throughout the legislative process.
According to party sources, the APC Chairman remains firmly behind the position adopted by the party’s MPs and is determined to provide leadership and support as discussions on the proposed constitutional reforms progress.
The Constitution Amendment Bill, which is being piloted by Alpha Sesay, seeks to introduce significant changes to Sierra Leone’s constitutional framework. The proposed reforms are largely informed by recommendations contained in the Justice Edmond Cowan Constitutional Review Committee Report and the Tripartite Committee Report.
Debate on the Bill has, however, been marked by sharp disagreements between Members of Parliament from the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the opposition APC over several key provisions.
One of the most contentious issues is the proposed amendment to the presidential election threshold. The Bill seeks to replace the current requirement of securing 55 percent of valid votes with a simple majority, while maintaining a geographic spread requirement of at least 20 percent of the votes in two-thirds of the country’s districts. APC lawmakers have argued that such a significant change requires broader consultation and national consensus, while their SLPP counterparts have defended the proposal as a democratic reform intended to strengthen the electoral system.
Another area of disagreement concerns the proposed appointment process for the Search and Nominations Committee. APC MPs have expressed reservations about the procedure and called for greater scrutiny, whereas SLPP legislators have maintained that the proposed arrangement is appropriate.
The proposed introduction of a Proportional Representation (PR) electoral system has also generated heated debate. APC lawmakers have opposed the proposal and called for further stakeholder consultations, while SLPP members contend that the reform would enhance Sierra Leone’s electoral and constitutional framework.
Beyond these disputed provisions, the Constitution Amendment Bill contains a broad range of reforms relating to elections, governance, political parties, security institutions, and democratic processes. Among its notable proposals are a mandatory 30 percent quota for women nominees, fixed election dates, and provisions allowing independent presidential candidates to contest elections.
As lawmakers continue deliberations, Alhaji Yansaneh’s presence in Parliament signals the APC leadership’s effort to provide support and direction to its MPs throughout the amendment process.
