1978 Sierra Leonean constitutional referendum

1978 Sierra Leonean constitutional referendum

12 July 1978 (1978-07-12)
Results
Choice Votes % Yes 2,152,460 97.15% No 63,186 2.85%

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A constitutional referendum was held in Sierra Leone on 12 July 1978. The constitutional amendments were aimed at turning the country into a presidential one-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 approval in the referendum. With more than 97% of voters voting in favour according to official results, the referendum has been described as "heavily rigged".^[1]

APC leader and President Siaka Stevens had pushed for the adoption of one-party rule, contending that it was more "African" than Western-style democracy.^[2]