Sierra Leone APC Secretary — General Remanded Over Alleged Incitement. Freetown, Sierra Leone — 13 February 2026 — Lansana Dumbuya, the Secretary-General of Sierra Leone’s main opposition party, the All People’s Congress (APC), has been remanded in custody following charges of incitement and insulting conduct.
The charges stem from remarks Dumbuya made at a political meeting in Freetown earlier this month.
Appearing before Pademba Road Magistrates’ Court No. 1, Dumbuya faced three charges: incitement, insulting language, and behaving in an insulting manner.
These charges are based on allegations that Dumbuya encouraged supporters to refer to President Julius Maada Bio as a thief, citing specific chants directed at the President.
Prosecutors argue that Dumbuya’s statements, made at an APC meeting on 31 January at Attouga Stadium, breached Section 12(a) of the Public Order Act of 1965. Dumbuya pleaded not guilty to all counts.
His defense counsel, Sulaiman Kabba — Koroma, argued that his client was not a flight risk and would comply with bail conditions if released.
However, State prosecutor Yusuf Isaac Sesay opposed bail, stating that the nature of the alleged offenses demonstrated a disregard for the law and national peace. Principal Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah ruled that bail could not be granted “at this stage “and ordered Dumbuya remanded to the Pademba Road Male Correctional Centre.
The case is set to resume on 16th February.
This legal action follows a fine imposed on the APC by the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC) for breaches of the Political Parties Act related to the same remarks.
The party’s activities were temporarily suspended over the unpaid fine, which escalated political tensions before being lifted. Outside the court, some APC supporters expressed frustration, suggesting the decision to remand Dumbuya was politically motivated.
The case has sparked a debate on the balance between political expression and public order laws in Sierra Leone.
The Lawyers’ Society Sierra Leone (LSSL) has warned that prosecuting political speech could undermine constitutional freedoms, urging authorities to uphold due process. Conversely, government supporters argue that certain expressions, particularly those that could threaten public order, do not fall under freedom of speech.
The outcome of Dumbuya’s case is expected to shape how Sierra Leone navigates the intersection of political expression and public order laws in the lead-up to future elections. For now, Dumbuya remains in custody as the legal process unfolds.
