Confusion on Thursday marred the opening of a new session of Sierra Leone’s parliament after members of the opposition stayed away from the ceremony in protest over election irregularities.

Fifty-four members of the opposition All People’s Congress declined to be sworn in, saying the election commissioner must resign and a new exercise be conducted within six months.

Eighty-one members of the parliament affiliated to the ruling Sierra Leone’s People’s Party were sworn in, while 14 indirectly elected chiefs also took the oath following last month’s national elections.

“A vibrant democracy needs a strong opposition — those who voted for the opposition need to have their voices heard,” United States ambassador to the country David Reimer said in a statement urging the lawmakers to make themselves available for parliamentary duties.

Samura Kamara, leader of the APC who lost the election, said: “Under normal circumstances, each day forward means progress. In our political journey, however, in Sierra Leone, a new day means going backwards.”

The party had slammed the June 24 election, which returned President Julius Bio, as “fraudulent.” But a member of the party Mohamed Bangura was sworn in on Thursday. Still, the parliament would fall short of the two-thirds majority required to pass through key legislations.