Ahead of a crucial decision on accountability on the part of the executive and questions around the conduct of the suspended Auditor General, Mrs. Lara Taylor-Pearce, some Members of Parliament of the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) may defy their party’s position.

The dispute, which has stirred strong emotions within Parliament, revolves around the decision to allow a secret ballot on the matter-a move that some members of the APC are reportedly warming up to, despite the party’s public stance supporting Taylor-Pearce’s reinstatement.

The controversy highlights not only divisions within the opposition but also underscores the broader challenges of balancing party loyalty with personal convictions in Sierra Leonean politics.

The Minority Leader in Parliament, Hon. Abdul Kargbo, had apparently referenced the position of the President in promoting accountability in public financial management in a Press Release issued on 30th October 2024 to convey the stance that the APC Party would not be voting to punish the suspended Auditor Genera, Lara Taylor-Pearce.

He recalled President Bio’s rejection of a provision in the 2020 Public Financial Management Bill because he considered it to be against accountability for the management of public funds at the highest level of government.

While no date has been set for the vote, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Hon. Tawa Conteh has endorsed a secret ballot, suggesting that it would enable MPs from both the APC and the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) to vote according to their conscience.

However, APC members are divided on the issue, with some MPs privately expressing frustration over their party’s pressure to unanimously support Taylor-Pearce. Notably, two opposition MPs have publicly criticized the APC’s insistence on a collective stance, asserting their right to independent judgment on behalf of their constituents.

As a result, whispers of a boycott are growing louder, with several APC MPs reportedly considering voting to uphold the dismissal, adding to the uncertainty and setting the stage for a potential political standoff in Sierra Leone’s Parliament