By Sulaiman Jalloh
The recent self-suspension of All People’s Congress (APC) Members of Parliament from parliamentary and committee sittings has sparked critical debate about the integrity of democratic representation and the accountability of elected officials to their constituents, while political parties are within their rights to enforce internal discipline, the implications of such collective withdrawal from parliamentary duties raise troubling concerns about transparency, responsibility, and public trust.
Members of Parliament (MPs) are elected to represent the people, not solely their political parties, under Sierra Leone’s current proportional representation (PR) system, the lines of accountability are blurred, as MPs are often seen as answerable to party structures rather than to voters themselves, however, this does not excuse any action that effectively disenfranchises constituents.
The APC MPs’ decision to suspend themselves from participation has deprived their electorates of representation in critical legislative processes, this act not only weakens the influence of the communities they represent but also erodes the democratic value of the votes cast in their favor, constituents, who placed their trust in these individuals to be their voice in Parliament, are left without representation during key national decisions.
Proponents of the suspension may argue it was necessary to maintain party cohesion or express political protest; however, such justification can easily be misused to suppress dissent and stifle healthy parliamentary debate an essential component of democratic governance.
When MPs are punished or pressured into silence, the risk is that they will begin to blindly follow party lines, rather than advocate for the real needs of their constituents, this undermines the principle of independent thought, stifles critical policymaking, and weakens the overall quality of governance.
A major concern surrounding such political manoeuvres is the lack of transparency. Many Sierra Leoneans are questioning the motivations behind these actions, particularly amid growing concern over the clerk of parliament’s decision to vie for a senior position in the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), the absence of clear explanations creates space for public speculation, suspicion, and cynicism.
Without transparent communication, citizens are left to wonder whether these suspensions serve the national interest or the strategic interests of political elites, in a democracy, where trust is the cornerstone, such ambiguity undermines legitimacy and erodes faith in political institutions.
While party loyalty and internal discipline are important, they must never override the fundamental duty of elected officials to serve the people, the self-suspension of opposition MPs, especially in the absence of clear due process or justification, constitutes a breach of the social contract between representatives and their constituents.
Such actions, regardless of political intent, weaken the foundations of representative democracy, leaving citizens feeling unheard, unrepresented, and disengaged.
At a time when Sierra Leone needs robust, accountable, and transparent governance, any mechanism whether self-imposed or party-enforced that restricts parliamentary representation should be approached with caution.
Democracy thrives on diversity of thought, open debate, and accountability, to silence opposition voices through withdrawal or suspension not only betrays the trust of voters, but also undermines the pluralistic spirit essential to a healthy, functioning democracy, in the end, it is not just a question of party discipline it is a question of democratic integrity.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday, 2nd July, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
