Freetown – The Leader of the Opposition in Sierra Leone’s Parliament, Hon. Abdul Kargbo, has vehemently opposed the appointment of Alex Pat Labib Saffa as Electoral Commissioner for the Eastern Region, denouncing it as a breach of constitutional provisions.
The objection arose during a parliamentary session where lawmakers were reviewing the qualifications of presidential nominees. Reports indicate that Hon. Kargbo staged a walkout in protest midway through Saffa’s vetting process.
In a public statement, Hon. Kargbo argued that appointing a former public servant to the Electoral Commission violates Sierra Leone’s Constitution, which he emphasized as the nation’s supreme legal authority, or grundnorm.
“I will not be complicit in any action that undermines the grundnorm of our state—the Constitution,” he declared.
Despite the opposition’s resistance, State House has officially confirmed Saffa’s appointment in a recent press release. Under Sierra Leonean law, Parliament is constitutionally mandated to scrutinize and approve key presidential appointments, including ministers and electoral commissioners.
The controversy raises further questions about adherence to constitutional procedures in high-level government appointments.
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