Appointing Sylvester Edmond Alpha as Acting Chairman of ECSL… SLPP Unleashes First Game Plan to Retain Power in 2028
By Kelvin Jay
In what political analysts are calling a strategic maneuver, the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) has appointed Sylvester Edmond Alpha as Acting Chairman of the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL). Many view this development as the first visible step in the SLPP’s broader game plan to retain power in the 2028 general elections.
According to a long-standing SLPP boast, “SLPP has 100 tactics; APC only has 99.” Political observers now believe that Alpha’s appointment is one of those tactics — a calculated move to maintain control over the country’s democratic institutions well beyond 2028.
Critics argue that Alpha’s elevation to the helm of the ECSL signals a tightening of SLPP’s grip on institutions meant to remain independent. Widely perceived by opposition figures and civil society groups as a loyal SLPP sympathizer, Alpha previously served as Electoral Commissioner for the Southern Region.
Reports suggest that during his tenure as Commissioner, Alpha oversaw three of the Commission’s most powerful departments: Operations, Procurement, and External Relations — giving him significant control over ECSL’s internal workings and external engagements.
In the lead-up to the 2023 elections, a leaked audio recording surfaced on social media, allegedly featuring Alpha. In the clip, the speaker dismisses concerns from the international community, stating that while they may desire a regime change, “they at ECSL would not allow it.” Though the authenticity of the audio remains unverified, it intensified concerns about the Commission’s impartiality under Alpha’s influence.
The 2023 general elections, which declared an SLPP victory, were heavily criticized by both international and local observers for widespread irregularities. Amid ongoing legitimacy concerns and international hesitation to endorse the results, President Bio reappointed Alpha as Commissioner for the Southern Region — a move seen by analysts as a clear signal of the government’s intentions.
Though Alpha has never been formally charged, opposition parties have accused him of manipulating electoral data to favor the ruling party. His reappointment following the contested elections prompted a walkout in Parliament by Members of the All People’s Congress (APC), deepening the country’s already tense political divide.
Now, with Alpha as Acting Chairman of ECSL, concerns are mounting that the opposition faces an uphill battle heading into 2028. Many fear the Commission’s leadership may favor the ruling party, potentially eroding public trust in the credibility and fairness of the electoral process.
“This is just the beginning,” said one opposition insider. “The real battle won’t be at the ballot box — it will be in the institutions that control the process.”
While the SLPP continues to deny allegations of political interference or partisanship within the ECSL, public confidence remains fragile. Civil society groups and election monitors have already begun calling for greater transparency, institutional reform, and political neutrality from the Commission.
As the dust settles on this latest appointment, all eyes are on ECSL. The central question now is this:
Will 2028 be free and fair — or has the outcome already been predetermined?
