Sierra Leone’s main opposition party, the All-People’s Congress (APC), has formally rejected the proposed appointment of Edmond Sylvester Alpha as Chief Electoral Commissioner/Chairman of the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone, citing concerns over credibility, public confidence and incomplete electoral reforms.In a letter dated 13th February 2026 and addressed to the Secretary to the President, the APC acknowledged receipt of correspondence dated 10th February 2026 informing the party of President Julius Maada Bio’s intention to appoint Alpha to head the Commission.The APC argued that the appointment is premature, stressing that key recommendations of the Tripartite Committee established to review concerns arising from the June 2023 presidential and general elections have not yet been implemented. The party specifically referenced recommendations calling for the creation of a parliamentary standing committee on electoral matters and the establishment of a search and nominating committee for the appointment of Electoral Commissioners.According to the APC, proceeding with the appointment without fulfilling these measures undermines the purpose and spirit of the reform process aimed at restoring public trust in the electoral system. The party maintained that Alpha, who served as a senior member of the Commission during the 2023 elections, cannot inspire the broad national confidence required to lead the institution.The 2023 elections were criticized by the APC and several international observer missions over concerns relating to transparency and statistical inconsistencies. The opposition reiterated its longstanding position that all commissioners who presided over those elections should be removed.The APC also raised concerns about alleged public remarks attributed to Alpha suggesting that the 2028 elections would not differ from those of 2023, describing such statements as troubling and inconsistent with efforts to rebuild confidence in the electoral body. It further referenced a recent incident during a chieftaincy election in Port Loko District in which a representative of National Elections Watch (NEW) was reportedly asked to leave a polling station while Alpha was acting head of the Commission. The party stated that no investigation was conducted into the matter.Beyond the APC, other bodies have reportedly expressed reservations about the nomination, including the Institute for Legal Research and Advocacy for Justice (ILRAJ) and the Lawyers’ Society of Sierra Leone. These groups are said to have raised concerns about due process in the appointment procedure, the need to complete the recommended reforms, and the importance of ensuring that the leadership of the Commission commands broad national confidence.In the letter signed by Acting Chairman Amb. Osman Foday Yansaneh, the APC urged President Bio to appoint another suitably qualified Sierra Leonean whose record and public standing can inspire trust across the political divide and safeguard the credibility of the electoral process ahead of 2028.The party reaffirmed its commitment to democracy and the rule of law but indicated that it is prepared to lawfully resist any attempt to replicate what it described as the shortcomings of the 2023 elections. As of press time, there had been no official response from State House to the growing objections surrounding the proposed appointment.