AYV News, October 21, 2024
Representatives from the African Union, the ECOWAS Commission, the United Nations Office for West Africa, and the Sahel (UNOWAS) amalgamated into International Moral Guarantors have urged Sierra Leone’s main opposition, All People’s Congress (APC) Party to start preparing for 2028 elections.
The recent engagement between the Moral Guarantors and the leadership of the APC Party highlighted critical issues within the Party, especially concerning the aftermath of the 2023 elections and preparations for 2028.
Whiles the representative urged the APC to start strategising for the upcoming elections, a significant concern, according to many, remains the internal divides and refusal by some senior party stakeholders to take responsibility as leaders, after the Party was defeated in 2023.
“This reluctance presents a growing challenge for the APC’s internal cohesion and future prospects”, a political analyst stated.
The representative’s reminder that “2028 is not far off”, underscores the urgency for the APC to move beyond the 2023 loss and start preparing for the next election cycle. Yet, some leaders’ insistence on clinging to the notion of a rerun, while giving false hope to a faction of supporters, threatens to stagnate the party’s progress and distract from the broader goals of political reorganisation and strategy-building.
A central issue in the Party’s meeting with the International Guarantors, was the emphasis on dialogue and political cases involving detainees, with the Guarantors pushing for resolutions to these lingering problems.
The meeting also saw the Moral Guarantors reaffirm their commitment to working with both the APC and SLPP to resolve political tensions and implement the recommendations of the tripartite agreement.
“However, real progress can only be made if the APC addresses its internal divisions and reestablishes constitutional order within its ranks,” another political analyst told this medium.
Some APC leaders’ refusal to speak the truth, despite clear calls from international stakeholders, suggests a worrying trend of defiance that could impede the Party’s ability to regroup effectively.
“The APC must look beyond individual ambitions and focus on unity, constitutionality, and preparation for the future. The question remains: can the APC make the necessary changes in leadership and strategy to position itself as a competitive force in 2028, or will internal strife and reluctance to follow party laws hinder its progress?” an anonymous Party member expressed his concern to this medium.
The APC faces a critical moment in which adherence to the Party’s constitution, unity and strategic planning must take precedence over individual ambitions and misplaced hopes for a rerun.
Some Party leaders’ continued defiance could weaken the Party’s foundation, and without decisive action, the APC risks missing the opportunity to consolidate its position for 2028. The Moral Guarantors’ message is clear: time is running out, and the APC must act now.
