First Elections Held Under New One-Party Constitution in May 1982

The first elections under Sierra Leone's new one-party constitution were held on 1 May 1982, marking a significant political shift in the country. Approximately two-thirds of the constituencies participated in the elections; however, due to various irregularities, the government was compelled to cancel elections in 13 constituencies. To address this, by-elections were subsequently conducted on 4 June 1982. Following the elections, a new cabinet was appointed by then-President Joseph Saidu Momoh Stevens, which notably included several prominent figures from the disbanded Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) who had defected to the All People's Congress (APC). Among these was Salia Jusu-Sheriff, a former leader of the SLPP, who took on the role of Finance Minister. His inclusion in the cabinet was perceived by many as a strategic move towards transforming the APC into a more inclusive national party, reflecting a broader political landscape in Sierra Leone during this period.