flagbearer aspirant of the opposition All People’s Congress (APC), Ady Macauley, has called on President Julius Maada Bio to reconsider the controversial appointment of Edmond Alpha as Chief Electoral Commissioner, suggesting that the President can lawfully reverse the decision without breaching the country’s legal framework.
Speaking during an interview on AYV’s Wake Up Sierra Leone programme, Macauley argued that the appointment has generated significant public concern and risks undermining confidence in the electoral process if not properly addressed.
According to him, the President retains the authority to “ease off” the newly appointed Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) Chairman, emphasizing that such a move would not contravene the laws of Sierra Leone. He maintained that exercising this option could help restore public trust and demonstrate the government’s commitment to transparency and democratic integrity.
Macauley, who is seeking to lead the APC into the next general elections, framed his intervention as a matter of national interest rather than partisan politics. He stressed that the credibility of the country’s electoral body remains fundamental to ensuring free, fair, and peaceful elections.
The appointment of Edmond Alpha has sparked debate across political and civil society spaces, with the main opposition, the All People’s Congress (APC), boycotting governance processes and calling for the removal of the Chief Electoral Commissioner.
