Two prominent senior lawyers and Presidential aspirant of the All People’s Congress (APC), Hon. Osman Abdal Timbo and Ady Macaulay, Esq., are reportedly preparing to challenge the ruling of the Speaker of the Parliament of Sierra Leone before the Supreme Court.
The lawyers’ proposed legal challenge centres on the Speaker’s ruling regarding the two-thirds majority required to pass the 2025 Constitutional Amendment Bill, which would pave the way for the use of the Proportional Representation (PR) electoral system in the 2028 elections.
According to lawyer Ady Macaulay, the Speaker of Parliament is not above the law and must act in accordance with the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone. He argued that the Constitution provides clear procedures for Parliament to follow when amending constitutional provisions.
Macaulay further referred to a 2002 Court of Appeal ruling, which he believes established a legal precedent concerning the powers and procedures of Parliament. He maintained that the precedent should be taken into consideration by the Supreme Court when determining the current matter.
“As a lawyer, I cannot sit by and watch one individual make what I believe is a wrong decision against the country I love. Tomorrow, prosperity will judge us,” Macaulay said, stressing that both he and the Speaker are still relatively young and have many years ahead of them.
He also welcomed the Speaker’s decision to refer the matter to the Supreme Court, saying that the country’s highest court should provide authoritative clarification on the constitutional question.
Dispute Over the Two-Thirds Majority
The controversy arose on Monday, August 10, 2026, when Members of Parliament debated the 2025 Constitutional Amendment Bill. Following the debate, the Speaker directed members to proceed with the voting process.
Members of the main opposition APC walked out of Parliament, refusing to participate in the vote. Despite their absence, the Speaker proceeded with the voting process, with members of the ruling SLPP participating.
Following the vote, the Speaker ruled that the bill had secured the required two-thirds majority and stated that the PR system would therefore be used in the 2028 elections. He subsequently referred the matter to the Supreme Court for constitutional interpretation.
However, the APC and its supporters dispute the Speaker’s interpretation. They argue that the SLPP Members of Parliament did not constitute the required two-thirds majority of the elected Members of Parliament, and therefore contend that the constitutional amendment could not validly be passed.
In another hand, another prominent APC lawyer and also presidential aspirant for the 2028 elections Hon. Osman Abdal Timbo said he believes the APC will challenge the Speaker’s decision before the Supreme Court, particularly on the question of how the constitutional requirement for a two-thirds majority should be calculated.
Timbo Said the case could therefore place an important constitutional question before Sierra Leone’s highest court: whether the votes cast by the MPs present in Parliament were sufficient to meet the constitutional threshold for passing the amendment, particularly when opposition MPs had walked out and did not participate in the vote.
The Supreme Court’s interpretation could have significant implications for the country’s electoral system and the proposed introduction of Proportional Representation in the 2028 elections.
The controversy has already generated considerable public debate, with many Sierra Leoneans expressing opposition to the PR system, while others argue that the system could provide broader political representation.
The ultimate determination, however, rests with the Supreme Court if the matter is formally brought before it.
