The Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC) has officially given the go-ahead to the Osman Foday Yansaneh-led executive of Sierra Leone’s All People’s Congress (APC) to remain in office, despite a legal challenge against the party. This decision confirms the current executive will continue to manage party affairs while a court case proceeds. The current executive of Sierra Leone’s All People’s Congress (APC) must stay in office and continue running party affairs. This ruling effectively pauses a planned leadership handover within the party, as an APC member filed a court challenge against the Commission’s transition directives. The PPRC stated, "In light of the above and in cognizance of the fact that a member of the party has taken the PPRC and the All People’s Congress to court regarding the second directive, the Commission is constrained to effect its second directive thus, the status quo shall remain the same pending the determination of the matter in court." This ruling ensures continuity for the APC's leadership.
Original Directives and Extension
The Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC) initially extended the All People’s Congress (APC) Executive’s term for six months, exercising its constitutional and statutory mandate under Section 39(5) of the Political Parties Act 2022, Act No. 25 of 2022. The Commission had exercised this mandate by extending the tenure of the APC Executive for six months under the specified section of the Act. This extension aimed to grant the party additional time to resolve its internal leadership structures and organize its National Delegates’ Conference. The extension was intended to provide the party with additional time to address its internal leadership arrangements and proceed towards its National Delegates’ Conference.
The PPRC issued a second directive outlining a contingency plan. This directive stipulated that if the APC Executive did not hold a National Delegates’ Conference within the six-month extension period, the party’s affairs would be managed by the APC parliamentary leader and five other Members of Parliament, each representing a region. These individuals would assume responsibility until the National Delegates’ Conference convened. The PPRC said the second limb of its February directive provided that if the APC Executive failed to take the party to its National Delegates’ Conference after the expiration of the six-month extension, the Leader of the APC in Parliament, together with the party’s five other Members of Parliament representing each region, would assume responsibility for managing the party’s affairs until the National Delegates’ Conference was held.
Court Challenge Halts Transition
A planned leadership handover within the All People's Congress (APC) has been paused due to a court challenge filed by an APC member against the Political Parties Regulation Commission's (PPRC) transition directives. This internal legal challenge specifically targets the second handover plan, effectively halting its implementation. A member of the APC has initiated legal proceedings against both the PPRC and the party itself, directly in relation to that second directive. As a result of the pending court action, the Commission said it is constrained from implementing the second component of its directive until the matter has been determined by the court. The Commission stated that, as a result of the pending court action, it is constrained from implementing the second component of its directive. The PPRC will wait until the matter has been determined by the court before proceeding with any transition.
PPRC Clarification and Status Quo
The Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC) affirmed that the status quo regarding the All People’s Congress (APC) leadership remains. The PPRC stated that the status quo remains. This means the current executive will retain administrative control of the party. The existing APC executive keeps administrative control of the party. The PPRC confirmed that the existing leadership will stay in place until the court concludes its decision on the ongoing legal challenge. The current leadership stays in place until the court finishes deciding the case. This clarification was detailed in a press statement issued by the PPRC on Monday, 17 August 2026. The clarification was contained in a press statement issued by the PPRC on Monday, 17 August 2026, following earlier directives communicated to the APC on 13 February 2026. The statement followed earlier directives that had been communicated to the APC on 13 February 2026. Lucien H.L. Momoh, Director of Public Education and ICT at the Political Parties Regulation Commission, signed the press statement. The press statement was signed by Lucien H.L. Momoh, Director of Public Education and ICT at the Political Parties Regulation Commission.