By Hassan Osman Kargbo
The National Publicity Secretary of the All People’s Congress (APC), Alhaji Sidi Yayah Tunis, has strongly defended the party’s newly gazetted internal election rules and regulations, describing objections filed against them as deliberate acts of sabotage.
His reaction follows the announcement by the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC) that it had completed the mandatory public review period for the APC’s internal election rules, a process that attracted formal objections from some quarters.
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Speaking on Liberty Online TV’s Breakfast Show, Tunis criticized the objectors, insisting that they should have been fully aware of the party’s internal processes before raising concerns. He said their actions were intended to undermine the APC’s preparations for its upcoming lower-level elections and the highly anticipated 2026 National Delegates Conference.
“The party revised its constitution in 2022, and the PPRC gave full approval to that document,” Tunis stressed. “What has now been gazetted is exactly in line with what was approved, so there is no basis for these objections. Those who filed them are simply trying to sabotage the process.”
The PPRC confirmed that it had officially gazetted the APC’s rules and regulations as part of the requirements under Sierra Leone’s electoral laws. According to the Commission, gazetting is a crucial stage in legitimizing party structures and ensures transparency in internal democratic processes. Once gazetted, a 30-day window is opened to allow members of the public and stakeholders to raise objections.
During this review period, the PPRC received a number of submissions challenging aspects of the APC’s rules. While details of the specific objections were not disclosed in the broadcast, the Commission noted that it will carefully review them in line with its mandate to promote democratic accountability and internal party democracy.
For Tunis, however, the objections are less about genuine concerns and more about internal sabotage. He maintained that the APC is committed to ensuring free and fair internal elections, but he warned that individuals bent on disrupting the process would not succeed.
“Our rules and regulations are designed to guarantee fairness, inclusivity, and accountability within the party,” he said. “The APC is moving forward to conduct credible elections at all levels, and no amount of sabotage will derail that agenda.”
The publicity secretary further reassured APC supporters that the party leadership is united and determined to press ahead with preparations for the 2026 National Delegates Conference. He added that the party is working to strengthen its structures nationwide to position itself as a formidable force ahead of Sierra Leone’s next general elections.
Observers say the dispute over the APC’s rules highlights the growing importance of internal party democracy in the country’s political landscape. The PPRC’s oversight role, especially in matters relating to constitutions and electoral regulations of political parties, is intended to minimize conflicts and ensure that parties adhere to democratic principles.
As the Commission reviews the objections, attention remains fixed on how the matter will be resolved and what implications it could have for the APC’s electoral preparations. For now, Tunis’s message is clear: the party views the objections as sabotage, and it intends to proceed confidently with its roadmap toward internal elections and the 2026 convention.
