00:00Sierra Leone's President Julius Madabio is urging lawmakers to pass a disputed constitutional reform bill
00:06after weeks of deadlock over changes to the country's electoral system.
00:10The proposals would lower the presidential election threshold from 55% to a simple majority or 50 plus 1 vote.
00:19They would also introduce proportional representation in parliament
00:23and reserve 30% of political leadership positions for women.
00:27The ruling Sierra Leone's People's Party say the reforms will strengthen democracy
00:32and reduce the cost, tensions and security risks of presidential runoffs.
00:37But the opposition All People's Congress want to keep the 55% threshold.
00:43Arguing it encourages candidates to win broader national support.
00:47Under the proposed system, candidates will also need at least 20% of the votes
00:52in the two-thirds of the country's districts to avoid the runoff.
00:55BIO has made a direct appeal to lawmakers to approve the bill ahead of the 2028 presidential election.
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