By Sayoh Kamara
This is a group of official and unofficial elements of the All People’s Congress (APC) party who have come together in a coalition to demand for internal reform, electoral fairness, and a transformation of the party’s leadership culture. This group is using “electoral justice” as its basis for rallying the party’s grassroots which it would appear, is resonating with many disillusioned supporters and their agitation is being peppered with confrontational rhetoric against the APC’s National Executive which by all indications, is presenting a growing risk to the unity and viability of the party.
This puts the All People’s Congress (APC) party at a critical juncture. As the 2026 National Delegates Conference draws near and the nation peers ahead to the 2028 general elections, the emergency of this movement within the party has both the potential to revitalize and destabilize the APC; this group is the “Council of Affiliate Groups for Electoral Justice”.
However, it is worth pointing out at the onset that the grievances fueling this movement are not unfounded. For years, the APC has wrestled with accusations of top-down control, exclusion of loyal grassroots operatives, and opaque leadership decisions. The Council’s formation must have been born out of the natural result of unaddressed frustrations—a symptom of a party struggling to reconcile its storied legacy with modern expectations of internal democracy.
Yet, the way this internal crisis unfolds will determine whether the APC emerges stronger or fragmented beyond repair.
This Can Be A Movement With Muscle: What appears to give the Council real clout is its grassroots base. Unlike elite-driven factions, this group is embedded in the rank-and-file of the party: the foot soldiers, women’s wings, youth groups, and diaspora chapters who have long carried the APC through thick and thin. Their demands for accountability and inclusivity strike a chord with a wide swath of the party’s traditional support base. This group has in its approach so far, manifested acrid disrespect to the former Leader and Chairman of the party in the person of former President Ernest Bai Koroma. The group and its sponsors and behind-the-scene operators have made debilitating commentaries against the former Leader and Chairman and even accusing him of also influencing decisions of the party using the current National Executive.
In this their show of revolutionary bravado, they appear oblivious that moral clarity does not automatically translate into strategic advantage. The APC National Executive, whatever its perceived failings, still controls the levers of party machinery: convention planning, disciplinary processes, and access to official platforms. As such, an all-out confrontation with the leadership—if left unchecked—could trigger further polarization, sow confusion, and ultimately paralyze the party ahead of a critical electoral cycle.
The Rhetoric Risk: The Council’s messaging, while bold, is at times inflammatory. Portraying the National Executive as illegitimate or resistant to progress may score points with frustrated members, but it risks burning the very bridges needed for dialogue and compromise.
History teaches that when reform movements within political parties become overly adversarial, they often fracture rather than transform their institutions. In Ghana, Nigeria, and even in Sierra Leone’s own political past, internal conflicts have led to splinter parties, defections, and demoralized bases. The APC cannot afford such a scenario if it is serious about contesting for power in 2028.
Formed by grassroots activists and long-standing affiliate organizations, the Council is more than a passing protest. It represents a broad-based coalition demanding internal reform, electoral fairness, and a transformation of the party’s leadership culture. While its rallying cry for “electoral justice” resonates with many disillusioned supporters, the movement’s confrontational rhetoric against the APC’s National Executive presents a growing risk to the unity and viability of the party.
Leadership Test: Reform or Retreat? The onus now falls on the National Executive to demonstrate political maturity. Instead of retreating into defensive posturing or silencing dissent, the leadership must view this moment as an opportunity to re-engage with the party base and initiate credible reforms. That includes reviewing the party’s constitution, opening up internal election processes, and involving affiliate groups in meaningful decision-making.
Equally, the Council must temper its tone and broaden its strategy. It must move from protest to policy influence, from grievance to constructive dialogue. If it seeks not just to challenge the status quo but to transform the APC from within, it must build alliances with moderates and elders, and push for a unity framework—not a factional standoff.
What Is at Stake? This internal crisis is not just about party positions or power plays. It is about whether the APC can project itself as a credible, democratic alternative to the ruling SLPP. Sierra Leone’s electorate, especially its youth, is watching closely. They are tired of recycled political theater and cynical elite bargains. A party that cannot manage its own internal democracy will struggle to convince the public that it can manage national governance.
The 2026 Delegates Conference could be a turning point—but only if the APC leadership embraces reform and reconciliation, and if the Council channels its activism into institution-building rather than confrontation.
The APC now stands at a crossroads. One path leads to renewal, unity, and electoral relevance. The other leads to fragmentation and political irrelevance. The choice belongs to both the Council and the Executive. But more importantly, it belongs to the party’s faithful, who deserve a future they can believe in.