Sierra Leonean parliamentary election, 1977
Encyclopedia
Parliamentary elections were held in Sierra Leone
on 6 May 1977. They were the last multi-party elections held in the country until 1996
.
Siaka Stevens
following his declaration of a state of emergency
after student riots earlier in the year.
In the election itself, only 41 of the directly elected and one of the indirectly elected paramount chief
seats were contested (in the remaining 36 directly elected and 11 indirectly elected seats, the All People's Congress
was the only party with a candidate). In a campaign marred by violence, elections in eight constituencies were not held on the day of the election, but were contested at a later date.
For the first time, there were also three presidential
appointees in the parliament
.
approved a new constitution that made the country a single-party state
with the APC as the sole legal party. Elections were held under this system in 1982, 1985 and 1986. Another referendum
in 1991 returned the country to multi-party politics, and the next pluriform elections
were held in 1996.
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
on 6 May 1977. They were the last multi-party elections held in the country until 1996
Sierra Leonean general election, 1996
General elections were held in Sierra Leone on 26 and 27 February 1996 to elect a president and Parliament of Sierra Leone. A second round of voting in the presidential election was held on 15 March...
.
Background
Elections were called ahead of schedule by presidentHeads of government of Sierra Leone
The following is a list of heads of government of Sierra Leone from 1954 until 1978, when a single party constitution was adopted, and President of Sierra Leone became head of government as well.-Heads of Government of Sierra Leone:-See also:...
Siaka Stevens
Siaka Stevens
Siaka Probyn Stevens was the 3rd prime minister of Sierra Leone from 1967–1971 and the 1st president of Sierra Leone from 1971–1985. Stevens is generally criticised for dictatorial methods of government in which many of his political opponents were executed, as well as for mismanaging...
following his declaration of a state of emergency
State of emergency
A state of emergency is a governmental declaration that may suspend some normal functions of the executive, legislative and judicial powers, alert citizens to change their normal behaviours, or order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans. It can also be used as a rationale...
after student riots earlier in the year.
In the election itself, only 41 of the directly elected and one of the indirectly elected paramount chief
Paramount chief
A paramount chief is the highest-level traditional chief or political leader in a regional or local polity or country typically administered politically with a chief-based system. This definition is used occasionally in anthropological and archaeological theory to refer to the rulers of multiple...
seats were contested (in the remaining 36 directly elected and 11 indirectly elected seats, the All People's Congress
All People's Congress
The All People's Congress is one of the two major political parties in Sierra Leone, the other is the Sierra Leone People's Party . The party was founded in 1960 by Pa Mucktarru Kallay, Allieu Badarr Koroma,Alhaji Sheik Gibril Sesay C A Kamara-Taylor, S A T Koroma and Abu Bakarr S Bangura...
was the only party with a candidate). In a campaign marred by violence, elections in eight constituencies were not held on the day of the election, but were contested at a later date.
For the first time, there were also three presidential
Heads of government of Sierra Leone
The following is a list of heads of government of Sierra Leone from 1954 until 1978, when a single party constitution was adopted, and President of Sierra Leone became head of government as well.-Heads of Government of Sierra Leone:-See also:...
appointees in the parliament
Parliament of Sierra Leone
The unicameral Parliament of Sierra Leone is the country's legislative body. It is sometimes known as the House of Representatives.The current Parliament, formed following elections held on 14 May 2002, has a total of 124 members. 112 members are directly elected in multi-member constituencies...
.
Results
| Party | Votes | % | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| All People's Congress All People's Congress The All People's Congress is one of the two major political parties in Sierra Leone, the other is the Sierra Leone People's Party . The party was founded in 1960 by Pa Mucktarru Kallay, Allieu Badarr Koroma,Alhaji Sheik Gibril Sesay C A Kamara-Taylor, S A T Koroma and Abu Bakarr S Bangura... |
425,328 | 61.93% | 70 |
| Sierra Leone People's Party Sierra Leone People's Party Sierra Leone People's Party is one of the two major political parties in Sierra Leone, along with the All People's Congress .-Formation:... |
205,976 | 29.99% | 15 |
| Democratic National Party | 478 | 0.07% | 0 |
| Independents Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... |
54,998 | 8.01% | 0 |
| Indirectly elected paramount chiefs | - | - | 12 |
| Presidential Heads of government of Sierra Leone The following is a list of heads of government of Sierra Leone from 1954 until 1978, when a single party constitution was adopted, and President of Sierra Leone became head of government as well.-Heads of Government of Sierra Leone:-See also:... appointees |
- | - | 3 |
| Total | 686,610 | 100% | 100 |
| Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union | |||
Aftermath
The following year, a referendumSierra Leonean constitutional referendum, 1978
A constitutional referendum was held in Sierra Leone on 12 July 1978. The changes were aimed at turning the country into a presidential single-party state, with the All People's Congress as the sole legal party. The new constitution had been adopted by parliament in May, and was put to public...
approved a new constitution that made the country a single-party state
Single-party state
A single-party state, one-party system or single-party system is a type of party system government in which a single political party forms the government and no other parties are permitted to run candidates for election...
with the APC as the sole legal party. Elections were held under this system in 1982, 1985 and 1986. Another referendum
Sierra Leonean constitutional referendum, 1991
A referendum on a new constitution was held in Sierra Leone in August 1991. Voting was held over four days . The new constitution would restore multi-party politics, as the country had been a single-party state since the 1978 constitutional referendum.Of the approximately 2.5 million voters,...
in 1991 returned the country to multi-party politics, and the next pluriform elections
Sierra Leonean general election, 1996
General elections were held in Sierra Leone on 26 and 27 February 1996 to elect a president and Parliament of Sierra Leone. A second round of voting in the presidential election was held on 15 March...
were held in 1996.