Freetown — An APC Member of Parliament has cut through the noise around alleged bribes linked to the constitutional amendment bill with a blunt statement that, if anyone had really offered him US$100,000 and a brand-new SUV, he would have accepted it.
Hon. Sorieba Alhaji Turay, popularly known as Hon. Tamemkor (or Tamemkoh), the APC MP for Constituency 051 in Tane Chiefdom, made the remark in a recent interview. Many are taking his words as a clear denial that any such offer was ever made to him or other opposition lawmakers.
The comments come weeks after Minority Leader and APC Parliamentary Leader Hon. Abdul Kargbo also addressed the same claims in several media interviews. Kargbo has firmly denied that any APC MP received vehicles or cash to support the Constitution of Sierra Leone (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
He challenged those spreading the stories to produce evidence, noted that he bought his own vehicle in January (months before the amendment talks intensified), and said he never personally met President Julius Maada Bio to discuss the bill before it reached Parliament.
The bribery allegations surfaced during heated debates in Parliament. In early August, most APC MPs walked out. They argued that the Speaker had allowed the process to continue without the two-thirds majority of all 149 MPs required under Section 108 of the 1991 Constitution.
The government side was reported to have around 96 votes in favour, which is short of the roughly 100 needed. The opposition said the process was unconstitutional. N
However, not every APC MP joined the walkout.
Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Alpha Sesay is piloting the bill, which draws on recommendations from the Justice Edmond Cowan Constitutional Review Committee and the Tripartite Committee set up after the disputed 2023 elections. Key proposals include reducing the presidential election threshold from 55 percent to a simple majority (50 percent plus one) with geographic spread requirements, along with other changes to elections and governance.
The process has seen repeated adjournments, procedural disputes, and calls for wider consultation. The Attorney-General has indicated a referendum could still be held, possibly before or alongside the 2028 elections.
Hon. Tamemkor’s straightforward remark has added fresh fuel to the public debate. Supporters of the denial say it shows earlier claims of successful inducements were baseless. Others point out that talk of offers (as distinct from actual payments) had been linked to the opposition’s resistance. Some are calling for clearer clarification or apology where allegations lack foundation, while others insist any claim of attempted bribery still needs independent investigation.
As of late August 2026, the amendment process remains contested, with the opposition standing firm on the need for the full two-thirds threshold and broader engagement. No independent proof of specific cash or vehicle offers has been publicly produced by either side.
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