Recent election cycles show a clear trend. Each round introduces a fresh political experiment. These changes weaken trust. They place citizens in a state of uncertainty.
In 2023 the shift to a district block PR system arrived with speed. ECSL moved fast after a directive from the Presidency. Section 38A of the 1991 Constitution sat unused for decades. It became active within weeks. Parliament passed the Public Elections Act 2022 and related regulations. The Supreme Court endorsed the change soon after. Processes that usually move slowly moved with sudden alignment across state institutions. This served the interests of the ruling government and strengthen its position.
Many citizens and civic groups raised concerns. They warned that major electoral reform needs broad consultation. They asked for proper civic education. They noted that the district block model placed smaller parties and independent voices at risk. Government pressed ahead. The result weakened participatory democracy. Voters had little time to understand a new system that shaped representation.
A new proposal now seeks to extend PR into the Executive and the public sector. Supporters describe it as power sharing. The winning party would take most cabinet seats and senior public posts. Other parties in Parliament would receive the rest. Supporters present this idea as a path to inclusive governance. The 2023 elections offer a different picture.
The shift to district block PR was promoted as a way to ease tension, widen participation and help smaller parties. The outcome was the reverse. Power concentrated in the APC and the SLPP. Smaller parties disappeared from Parliament. Independent voices lost ground. Polarisation grew. Ordinary citizens lost influence over who speaks for them. Party elites gained more control.
Extending PR into the Executive and public sector ignores these lessons. Electoral reform language often sounds inclusive. Practice often serves entrenched interests. Another sudden shift risks deepening control rather than widening participation.
The secrecy around ongoing reform discussions raises concern. Speed and tight coordination shaped the 2023 change. A similar pattern might appear again. Public input would again be limited.
Democracy needs stability, openness and trust. Electoral systems shape those values. Frequent changes for partisan gain place elections at risk. Sierra Leone needs a system anchored in fairness, not experiments that weaken confidence in representation.