AYV News, February 13, 2026
The Chairman of the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC), Emmanuel Koivaya Amara Esq., has declared that the era of repeated warnings to Sierra Leone’s two dominant political parties—the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the All People’s Congress (APC) Party—has officially ended.
Speaking on the Commission’s regulatory direction, Mr. Amara stated that both parties will no longer benefit from cautionary warnings for breaches of the Political Parties Act.
“We will not warn any of them again. We can now only warn the other smaller political parties, but not the SLPP and APC anymore, until the electoral calendar closes. Their grace period is over,” he said.
According to Mr. Amara, the Commission’s decision follows concerns over the tone and nature of political engagement throughout 2025.
“In 2025, the public space was actually awash with foul language that was not good for the peace of this country, especially by players who belong to the SLPP and APC,” he explained.
He disclosed that the Commission summoned the leadership of both parties to a meeting to address the issue of inflammatory rhetoric and public conduct.
“Both parties agreed that they had no defence and ought to change. In that meeting, they signed an agreement that they will change,” he revealed.
The PPRC Chair emphasised that while the Commission regulates political parties as institutions, it does not regulate individuals.
“We regulate political parties; we don’t regulate individuals,” he clarified, noting that party leadership bears responsibility for ensuring compliance by their members and supporters.
Responding to the Chairman’s comments, senior figures within the APC said the party remains committed to lawful political engagement but cautioned against selective enforcement.
The APC stated that while the party supports efforts to promote peaceful political discourse, regulatory measures must be applied fairly and transparently across the political spectrum.
“The APC believes in democracy and the rule of law. However, enforcement must be even-handed. If sanctions are to be imposed, they must not appear politically motivated,” the Party said.
It also reiterated its call for political tolerance and mutual respect among all actors, stressing that peace and stability are in the national interest.
On the ruling SLPP side, party officials welcomed the Commission’s emphasis on discipline, stating that political maturity is necessary as the country moves closer to another electoral cycle.
An SLPP representative said the party remains committed to upholding the Political Parties Act and maintaining decorum in political communication.
“We support the PPRC’s role in safeguarding peace and democratic order. Political leaders and supporters must be mindful of their language and actions,” the SLPP official noted.
However, the party also underscored the importance of ensuring that enforcement mechanisms are based strictly on evidence and due process.
Mr. Amara acknowledged that future enforcement could face challenges, including the risk of political actors attempting to implicate rival parties.
“A certain political party may want another political party to run into trouble with the PPRC, so they may send their bulls to misbehave in their activities,” he cautioned.
He assured that the Commission remains mindful of such possibilities and that any party dissatisfied with a PPRC decision has the right to challenge it through appropriate legal channels.
“When the PPRC investigates those issues and makes a wrong conclusion, the affected political party is at liberty to contest it,” he added.
Political analysts view the Chairman’s declaration as a significant shift in regulatory posture. By ending the warning phase for the country’s two most influential parties, the PPRC is signalling stricter accountability in the political space.
As the electoral calendar advances, observers say the real test will lie in consistent and impartial enforcement.
For now, both the SLPP and APC have publicly expressed commitment to peaceful engagement — but whether rhetoric on the ground will reflect that commitment remains to be seen.
