By Josephine Sesay

The All People’s Congress (APC) Parliamentary Caucus has walked out of Sierra Leone’s Parliament, rejecting participation in the ongoing constitutional amendment process over concerns about the required voting threshold.

The walkout comes as Parliament continues deliberations on proposed amendments to the country’s Constitution, with the opposition caucus insisting that any constitutional amendment must meet the constitutionally prescribed two-thirds majority threshold to be validly passed.

The APC Parliamentary Caucus maintains that it cannot participate in an amendment process that, in its view, fails to meet the legal and constitutional requirements governing changes to the Constitution.

The decision has created a major political standoff inside Parliament, with lawmakers now faced with questions over how the amendment process will proceed in the absence of the APC Caucus.

The constitutional amendment process has been closely watched by political parties, civil society groups and members of the public, given the potential implications of any changes to the country’s supreme law.

The APC’s position has further intensified tensions surrounding the proceedings, particularly as Parliament moves toward voting on the proposed amendments.

The two-thirds majority requirement has emerged as a central point of contention, with the APC arguing that constitutional amendments cannot be validly adopted without securing the required level of parliamentary support.

The walkout also raises questions about whether Parliament will proceed with the voting process despite the absence of the APC lawmakers, or whether further consultations will be held to address the concerns raised by the opposition.

As lawmakers remain divided over the procedure, attention is now focused on the leadership of Parliament and the next steps in the constitutional amendment process.

The development marks another dramatic moment in Sierra Leone’s ongoing constitutional debate and could have significant political and legal implications depending on how Parliament handles the disagreement over the required threshold.

For now, the key question remains: Will Parliament proceed with the constitutional amendments without the APC Caucus, or will the two sides return to the negotiating table to resolve the dispute over the constitutional threshold?

Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday, 12th August 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)