By Ishmael Sallieu Koroma

Freetown, Sierra Leone — 13 February 2026 — The Secretary-General of Sierra Leone’s main opposition party has been remanded in custody after being charged with alleged incitement and insulting conduct over remarks made at a political meeting in the capital.

Lansana Dumbuya, national secretary-general of the All People’s Congress (APC) Party, appeared before Pademba Road Magistrates’ Court No. 1 in Freetown on Thursday. He was charged with three offences — incitement, insulting language, and behaving in an insulting manner in alleged breach of Section 12(a) of the Public Order Act of 1965, as amended.

Prosecutors say the charges relate to statements made during an APC meeting held on 31 January 2026 at Attouga Stadium in Freetown’s east end. They allege Dumbuya encouraged supporters to refer to President Julius Maada Bio as a thief, citing chants including “Maada Bio Tiffy Tiffy Jankoliko”.

The charges were read and explained to Dumbuya, who pleaded not guilty to all three counts.

Bail application rejected

At the hearing, defence counsel Sulaiman Kabba-Koroma argued that his client was not a flight risk and would comply with any conditions imposed if released on bail.

State prosecutor Yusuf Isaac Sesay opposed bail, telling the court that the nature of the alleged offences  related to public order demonstrated a disregard for the law and national peace, and that there was a risk of similar conduct if he were released.

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 2026.

Regulatory backdrop

The legal proceedings followed earlier action by the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC), which fined the APC 350,000 new leones (NLe) over what it described as breaches of the Political Parties Act linked to remarks made at the 31st January meeting.

The party’s activities were briefly suspended when it initially failed to pay the fine, escalating political tensions. The suspension was later lifted after payment.

Supporter reaction

Outside the court premises, some APC supporters expressed frustration over the decision to remand the party’s senior official.

“This is purely political,” said one supporter who declined to be named. “Our Secretary-General was speaking at a party meeting. Sending him to Pademba Road sends a message that opposition voices are being targeted.”

Other supporters gathered near the court complex that called for his immediate release and urged party members to remain calm while the legal process continued.

Broader debate

The case has sparked debate across Sierra Leone’s political and legal landscape.

The Lawyers’ Society Sierra Leone (LSSL) has warned that prosecuting political speech could risk undermining constitutional freedoms, urging authorities to uphold due process and ensure that regulatory mechanisms are applied fairly.

Government supporters, however, argue that freedom of expression does not extend to language they say could threaten public order, particularly at large political gatherings.

Analysts say the outcome of the case could shape how Sierra Leone balances political expression and public order laws ahead of future electoral cycles.

For now, Dumbuya remains in custody as proceedings continue before the Pademba Road Magistrates’ Court.