PRESS STATEMENT
A RULE THAT DIVIDES, NOT UNITES: WHY SIERRA LEONE IS NOT READY FOR THE ―20% IN TWO-THIRDS OF DISTRICTS‖ PRESIDENTIAL THRESHOLD
The Sierra Leone Advocacy Movement – Global (SLAM-GLOBAL), speaking as the unified conscience of the Sierra Leonean people at home and across the diaspora, issues this urgent warning: the proposed constitutional reform requiring a presidential candidate to secure at least 20% of the vote in two-thirds of Districts is not a stabilizing reform-it is a democratic accelerant capable of entrenching permanent one-party rule and reopening historical wounds that once plunged our nation into conflict.
At a moment when public trust is already fragile-following the deeply disputed 2023
elections-this proposal risks converting electoral engineering into structural exclusion.
1. Public Trust Is Already Broken-This Rule Would Break It Further
Sierra Leone does not approach this reform from a position of democratic strength.
” The 2023 elections remain unresolved in the eyes of millions, with polling- station-level results still withheld.
” The Tripartite Committee process, while politically brokered, did not restore public confidence.
” International observers, including the Carter Center and EU partners, flagged
transparency failures.
” Parliament has since functioned largely as a rubber stamp, reinforcing perceptions of de facto one-party dominance.
In such an environment, any new threshold rule must lower tensions and broaden inclusion. This one does the opposite.
2. Quantitative Reality: How the Rule Structurally Fails the Opposition
Electoral Geography Matters More Than National Votes
Sierra Leone’s political reality is not evenly distributed-it is regionally and ethnically polarized.
” SLPP strongholds (primarily in the South-East) consistently deliver 30-70% vote shares, even in poor national performance years.
” APC strongholds (North-West) also deliver large margins-but APC vote penetration into SLPP-dominated districts historically falls below 15- 20%.
What the 20% Rule Does in Practice
Under the proposed rule:
” A candidate must secure 20% of votes in at least ~11 of 16 districts (two- thirds).
” This privileges geographic homogeneity over national plurality.
Counterfactual Modeling Using Past Elections
When past elections (2007, 2012, 2018, 2023) are modeled under this rule:
” APC fails the 20% threshold in multiple South-Eastern Districts in every cycle, even in years where it won or nearly won nationally.
” SLPP passes the threshold even in weak national years, because its regional base is deeper and more evenly distributed across qualifying Districts.
CONCLUSION:
The rule systematically advantages SLPP and structurally disadvantages APC and other smaller Parties, regardless of campaign quality, national sentiment, or turnout.
This is not theory-it is arithmetic.
3. ?But What About SLPP?? – The Rule Protects Power, Not Competition
Some argue the rule enforces national reach. The data show otherwise.
” The SLPP already satisfies the rule by default due to regional concentration and demographic alignment.
” The APC and other Parties must over-perform in historically hostile Districts by margins never achieved in post-war elections to qualify.
Thus, the rule does not encourage cross-national campaigning-it locks in demographic realities as constitutional destiny.
4. Historical Warning: Sierra Leone Has Been Here Before
Sierra Leone’s past teaches a hard lesson:
” Effective one-party dominance in the late 1970s-1980s eroded accountability.
” Exclusion from political pathways became a driver of alienation, radicalization, and ultimately civil war.
” Stability without legitimacy proved to be an illusion.
A spread rule imposed before trust is rebuilt risks repeating this cycle-not with guns at first, but with civic withdrawal, youth unrest, and institutional decay.
As one young Sierra Leonean told SLAM-GLOBAL:
?If elections stop meaning anything, people will find other ways to be heard-and those ways are never peaceful.?
5. Why Sierra Leone Is Not Ready for This Change
This reform assumes conditions that do not currently exist:
” A trusted Electoral Commission
” Published, verifiable election data
” Independent judiciary perceived as neutral
” Parliament acting as a genuine check
” Broad national consensus
Without these, procedural sophistication becomes political weaponry.
6. What Is Missing From the Government’s Analysis
The proposal fails to address:
” The ethno-regional structure of voting
” The post-2023 legitimacy deficit
” The youth bulge and unemployment crisis
” The drug epidemic hollowing out communities
” The historical cost of exclusion
Democratic engineering without social repair is reckless.
7. A Better Path: Alternatives That Can Actually Succeed
SLAM-GLOBAL proposes credible, stabilizing alternatives:
Option 1: Two-Round Runoff System
” Widely used across Africa
” Ensures majority legitimacy
” Encourages coalition-building after the first round, not exclusion before it
Option 2: Modified Threshold with Safeguards
” Lower geographic spread (e.g., 10-15%)
” Mandatory publication of full results
” Independent election audit mechanisms
Option 3: Sequencing Reform Correctly
” First: transparency, ECSL reform, judicial independence
” Then: constitutional thresholds
Order matters. Trust must precede thresholds-not follow them.
8. Our Message to Sierra Leone, ECOWAS, and the World
To Sierra Leoneans: This is not about APC vs SLPP. It is about whether the Constitution becomes a bridge or a barrier.
To ECOWAS and the AU: Do not mistake procedural change for democratic progress.
Rules that entrench exclusion undermine regional stability.
To the International Cmmunity: Silence now will be remembered later.
SLAM-GLOBAL DEMANDS
1. Immediate suspension of the 20% spread proposal
2. Full publication of all 2023 election data
3. Independent electoral reform commission with civil society leadership
4. National dialogue rooted in truth, not arithmetic
CLOSING
Unity cannot be engineered by thresholds! Stability cannot be legislated without legitimacy!
Democracy cannot survive when rules decide winners before ballots do!
Sierra Leone is not ready for this rule-but it is ready for truth, inclusion, and real reform.
P.S. We invite you to explore our recently published analysis in a book, “Building a Nation: Good Governance and Democratic Principles in Sierra Leone.” As we unite for change in 2026, this resource provides valuable insights for activists, policymakers, and concerned citizens committed to Sierra Leone’s transformation. Find it here: link.
Signed,
Dr. Alfred A. Veenod Fullah
DIRECTOR-GENERAL
CC:
” Office of the President of Sierra Leone
” Office of the Vice President of Sierra Leone
” Speaker of the Sierra Leone House of Parliament
” Office of the Chief Minister of the Government of Sierra Leone
” Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL)
” Inspector General of Sierra Leone Police
” Chief of Defence Staff, Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF)
” Office of National Security, Sierra Leone
” Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion
” Leonardo Santos Simao, Representative of the Secretary-General & Head of UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS)
” African Union (AU)
” Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
” Amnesty International
” Marco Rubio, United States Secretary of State
” Vice President, Congressional and Public Affairs
” The Commonwealth Secretary-General
” Karim Ahmad Khan, Chief Prosecutor, International Criminal Court (ICC)
” Richard YOUNG, Chief de Division, Afrique de l’Ouest
” Ms. Ursula Von Der Lyen, European Commissioner
” The United Nations Representative in Sierra Leone
” H. E. Oumar Touray, President of ECOWAS Commission
” Madam Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang, former VP of The Gambia
” H.E John Dramani Mahama, President of Ghana
” H. E. Bassiru Faye, President of Senegal
” H.E. Mamadi Doumbouya, President of Guinea
” H.E. Joseph Boakai, President of Liberia
” David Lammy, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth & Dev Affairs, UK
” Neil Alan John Coyle, MP for Bermondsey & Old Southwark, UK
” Ambassador Aly Diallo, Ambassador of the Republic of Guinea to the UK&I
” Ambassador Mohammad Maidugu, Acting High Commissioner of Nigeria in the UK&I
” Her Excellency Dr Fatou Bensouda, Head of Mission, The Gambia high Commission, UK&I
” H.E Fatimata Dia, Ambassador of Senegal to the UK&I
” H.E Gurly T. Gibson-Schwarz, Ambassador of Liberia to the UK&I
” Her Excellency Josephine Gauld, British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of the United States of America to Sierra Leone
” Head of the European Union Delegation in Sierra Leone
” General Consul of Canada in Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of China to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of Germany to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of Lebanon to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of Iran to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of Brazil to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of Sweden to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of Libya to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of Egypt to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of Cuba to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of Guinea to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of Liberia to Sierra Leone
” High Commissioner of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Sierra Leone
” High Commissioner of Ghana to Sierra Leone
” High Commissioner of The Gambia to Sierra Leone
” General Consul of Italy in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul-General of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul-General of Ireland in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul-General of Japan in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul-General of India to Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Senegal in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Switzerland in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Syria in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Turkey in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Mali in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Romania in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Norway in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Hungary in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of France in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Belgium in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of The Netherlands in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Spain in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Serbia in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Austria in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Denmark in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Russia in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Malaysia in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of South Africa in Sierra Leone
” Civil Society Movement – Sierra Leone (CSM – SL)
” Media Reform Coordinating Group of Sierra Leone (MRCG)
” Sierra Leone Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (SLANGO)
” Civil rights Defenders – Sierra Leone
” National Elections Watch (NEW) – Sierra Leone
” Campaign for Good Governance (CGG) – Sierra Leone
” Women’s Forum – Sierra Leone
” Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD)
” Sierra Leone Legal Aid Board
” Faith-Based and Interfaith Organizations – (Interreligious Council of Sierra Leone)
” Council of Churches in Sierra Leone (CCSL)
” Fourah Bay College – University of Sierra Leone
” Institute of Governance Reform (IGR)
” Youth Partnership for Peace and Development (YPPD)
” Children’s Forum Network
” Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) – Sierra Leone
” Awoko Newspaper – Sierra Leone
” Liberty TV Online – Sierra Leone
” Radio Democracy 98.1 FM Station – Sierra Leone
” The New York Times
” The Washington Post
” The USA Today
” The Cable News Network (CNN)
” The MicroSoft National Broadcast Corporation (MSNBC)
” The Fox News
” The Associated Press
” Thomson Reuters
” The National Public Radio (NPR)
” The Brookings Institution
” The Heritage Foundation
” The Center For American Progress
” The National Association For The Advancement Of Colored People (NAACP)
” The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
” The MoveOn
” The Democratic National Committee
” The Republican National Committee
” The EMILY’s List
” The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
” The Sky News
” Al Jazeera
” The Independent Television (ITV)
” The Times
” The Financial Times
” The Guardian
” The Daily Telegraph