By Forum staff writer
The All People’s Congress APC has rejected responsibility for public remarks attributed to Ms Zainab Sheriff but the Political Parties Regulation Commission PPRC says the party acted too late to avoid sanctions, leading to its suspension from political activities.
In a letter signed by the APC National Secretary General Lansana Dumbuya Esq, the party informed the Commission that Ms Sheriff made the comments in her personal capacity and not as an authorised representative of the APC. According to the party, she had accepted full personal responsibility for the statements and had clearly stated that the APC should not assume liability on her behalf.
The correspondence further indicated that Ms Sheriff warned she would take legal action against the party if it accepted responsibility or paid any fine related to her remarks. The APC therefore argued that it could not be held accountable for statements made independently by an individual who was not acting on its authority. The party urged the PPRC to direct any enforcement measures including financial penalties solely at Ms Sheriff.
However, the PPRC has rejected the APC’s position, insisting that the party’s response was submitted after the deadline for compliance had already expired. The Commission said fines imposed under Section 39 subsection 1 of the Political Parties Act No 25 of 2022 were officially communicated to the APC on February 2 2026.
According to the PPRC, the APC was given until February 10 2026 to settle the fines and was reminded several times before the deadline. The Commission stated that despite these notices, the party failed refused or neglected to make payment within the stipulated time frame.
As a result, the PPRC announced the immediate suspension of the APC from all political activities. The suspension covers meetings rallies internal elections and administrative operations. The Commission said the sanction will remain in force until the APC pays the outstanding fines and receives written clearance confirming the restoration of its operational status.
The PPRC also warned that the matter should be treated with utmost seriousness, noting that continued non compliance could attract further sanctions. These could include referrals to the Anti Corruption Commission for investigation if the situation is not resolved.
The development has drawn attention to ongoing tensions between political parties and regulatory authorities over where responsibility lies when individuals associated with parties make controversial public statements. While the APC maintains that it communicated with the Commission before taking any action that would imply liability, the PPRC has taken a firm stance based on timelines and statutory obligations.
The Commission says its decision reflects its commitment to enforcing the law and ensuring compliance by all registered political parties as part of efforts to strengthen accountability and order within Sierra Leone’s political landscape.
