The National Secretary General of the All People’s Congress (APC), Lawyer Lansana Dumbuya, has openly questioned the Bio-led government’s push for power-sharing governance and the adoption of the Proportional Representation (PR) system, insisting that Sierra Leoneans must be the ones to decide through a national referendum.
Speaking during a Presidential Advisers’ Stakeholders Meeting with political parties, Dumbuya maintained that inclusive governance cannot be achieved by imposing systems without the explicit consent of citizens. He emphasized that the right of Sierra Leoneans to determine their electoral path is non-negotiable.
“We should not be choosing on behalf of the people. The referendum is the proper course, and it gives legitimacy to whatever system is adopted,” he stated.
The meeting, convened by the Office of the Presidential Advisers, brought together representatives of major political parties to discuss the government’s proposed framework for inclusivity, including the possible continuation of the PR system.
Dumbuya, however, argued that while political structures are important, the foundation of true democracy lies in integrity and transparent leadership. According to him, bypassing broad-based consent erodes public trust and weakens democratic institutions.
He concluded by reminding stakeholders that “systems alone do not build democracy; honest and accountable leadership does.”