AYV News, February 17, 2026
Internal tensions within the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) have intensified following the announcement of a new date for its long-awaited Ward Elections, with senior party figure Alfred Peter Conteh openly challenging the leadership’s credibility and preparedness.
In a public notice dated 14th February 2026, signed by Acting National Chairman Amb. Osman Foday Yansaneh, the party announced that after consultations with the Internal Elections Management Committee (IEMC), Ward Elections would now be held nationwide on Saturday, 21st February 2026.
The leadership attributed the rescheduling to ongoing logistical preparations, explaining that the additional time would allow for the training of personnel and the completion of arrangements necessary to ensure a peaceful, transparent, and well-coordinated process. Members were urged to remain calm, united, and committed to strengthening internal democracy.
However, the announcement has triggered sharp criticism from Alfred Peter Conteh, who dismissed the explanation as misleading and described recent communications from what he termed the “defunct Secretariat” as attempts to create the impression that meaningful preparations were underway.
Conteh argued that the party is far from ready to conduct credible internal elections, alleging that existing structures have failed to demonstrate both competence and measurable progress. He further accused the current executive of mishandling key political processes, including the implementation of the Tripartite Committee’s recommendations.
Additionally, he raised constitutional concerns regarding the tenure of Ward, Constituency, District, and Regional Executives, asserting that their 36-month mandate has expired with no legal provision for extension under the party’s constitution. According to him, any attempt to proceed without addressing this issue would undermine the legitimacy of the process.
The dispute unfolds amid earlier acknowledgements from sections of the party that it faces significant financial constraints, prompting speculation among critics that resource challenges — rather than logistical fine-tuning — may be a central factor behind the delay.
The disagreement highlights deeper structural and leadership divisions within the APC as it seeks to reorganise and consolidate ahead of future national political contests. With public disagreements now surfacing among senior figures, questions remain over whether the planned Ward Elections will proceed as scheduled — and whether they will command broad internal acceptance if they do.
