The High Court of Sierra Leone issued an interim injunction on Thursday, August 27, 2026, restraining senior officials of the All People’s Congress (APC) from exercising key executive functions. Honourable Justice Adrian Fisher reportedly issued the order after an ex parte application heard in the Judge’s Chambers. Osman Foday Yansaneh and Lansana Dumbuya are specifically restrained from presenting themselves as executive members or performing functions of the party’s National Chairman and Leader and National Secretary General, respectively. The order explicitly prohibits Mr. Yansaneh from acting as the National Chairman and Leader, and Mr. Dumbuya from acting as the National Secretary General of the party. The injunction temporarily prohibits the two officials from convening meetings, managing APC affairs, and undertaking duties connected to daily administration, pending a hearing on Monday, August 31, 2026. This interim ruling affected other APC structures, including the Independent Elections Complaint Board (IECB). The IECB announced the immediate suspension of all its activities in a public notice dated Friday, August 28, 2026. The suspension is to remain in effect until further notice.
Court Order Details
The High Court’s order further restrains the officials from engaging in activities associated with the offices of National Chairman and Leader and National Secretary General. This restriction will remain in effect until the application is fully heard and determined by the court, or until the court issues a subsequent order. This means that all official duties typically performed by these officeholders are temporarily suspended. The High Court issued a warning that non-compliance with the injunction could be considered contempt of court. Potential sanctions for contempt include imprisonment, a fine, or the seizure of assets, according to the court's directive. This stern warning shows the seriousness with which the court views adherence to its orders.
Mohamed Pope Kamara stated that the order temporarily limits the National Chairman, National Secretary General, and other affected party structures from performing specific functions. These restrictions are in place pending the next stage of the legal proceedings, which are scheduled for Monday, August 31, 2026. The interim injunction serves as a temporary measure, and it does not constitute a final determination of the underlying substantive dispute, as clarified by the court. This distinction is key, as it indicates that the court has not yet ruled on the merits of the case, but rather imposed a temporary halt to certain party operations to preserve the status quo or address immediate concerns. The proceedings on August 31 are expected to further clarify the duration and scope of these restrictions.
Impact on Party Elections
The suspension of APC executive functions extended to the Independent Elections Complaint Board (IECB)'s activities, including the postponement of hearings for Ward Rerun Election Petitions. These hearings had been scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 29, 2026, in Freetown. The IECB issued a notice acknowledging that the sudden postponement could inconvenience petitioners and other interested parties, particularly those who had already made arrangements to travel to Freetown. The board expressed regret for any disruption caused by the unforeseen circumstances.
IECB Secretary, Osman Soura Kamara Esq. Signed the notice. He stated, "By reason of the ruling of the Honourable Justice A. Fisher dated 27th August 2026, the Board hereby informs all petitioners and the general membership that all activities relating to the APC Independent Elections Complaint Board are suspended until further notice." This directive indicates that all processes handled by the IECB, including the resolution of election-related grievances, are on hold indefinitely. The decision directly follows the High Court's interim injunction, which restrained key APC officials and structures from performing their duties. The impact is immediate for those involved in the rerun election petitions, as their scheduled hearings will not proceed as planned. The indefinite suspension means that petitioners will have to await further directives from the IECB regarding the rescheduling of their hearings, creating uncertainty for those seeking resolution to their electoral disputes.
Party Response and Context
The development within the All People’s Congress comes amid ongoing internal electoral activities and disputes within the party. The High Court's intervention has directly impacted these processes, which include the resolution of grievances related to internal elections. The Independent Elections Complaint Board (IECB) holds responsibility for considering grievances and petitions that arise from the party’s internal election processes. Its role is critical in ensuring fairness and addressing irregularities within the party's electoral framework. The suspension of the IECB's activities, therefore, directly affects the mechanisms for addressing these disputes. This situation places a temporary halt on the party's internal electoral calendar and the resolution of contested outcomes. The injunction has effectively paused a significant part of the party's internal democratic processes, with implications for its future leadership and operational stability. The party now awaits further judicial direction to resume its internal electoral functions and address the pending petitions.
