Section 49: President.

(1) The office of President shall become vacant— a. on the expiration of any of the terms prescribed in subsection (1) of section 46 of this Constitution; or b. where the incumbent dies or resigns or retires from that office; or c. where the incumbent ceases to hold that office in pursuance of section 50 or 51 of this Constitution: Provided that the President shall not resign or retire from his office even at the due expiration of his term of office while a general election of Members of Parliament is pending within the ensuing three months, or where a state of public emergency has been declared. (2) If Sierra Leone is at war in which the national territory is physically involved, and the President considers that it is not practicable to hold elections, Parliament may by resolution extend the period of five years mentioned in subsection (1) of section 46, but no such extension shall exceed a period of six months at any one time. (3) Any resignation or retirement by a person from the office of President shall be in writing addressed to the Chief Justice and a copy thereof shall be sent to the Speaker and the Chief Electoral Commissioner. (4) Whenever the President dies, resigns, retires or is removed from office as a result of paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (1), the Vice-President shall assume office as President for the unexpired term of the President with effect from the date of the death, resignation, retirement or removal of the President, as the case may be. (5) The Vice-President shall, before assuming office as President in accordance with subsection (4), take and subscribe the oath for the due execution of his office as set out in the Second Schedule to this Constitution.