A bleak future still hunts the main opposition, All People’s Congress owing to ceaseless litigations. The litigant Sierra Leonean Diasporan, Alfred Peter Conteh is intransigent. He vows to see justice even at the last drop of his blood. He is not scared by any actual or threats of physical violence.
“I am not scared by anyone, I am ready to fight a national cause,” he said.
His overriding concern is to see the whole APC executive dissolved. He has no trust in the current executive including former President, Ernest Bai Koroma. His contention is based on grounds of expiry of the executive’s mandate.
Fisher’s ruling over a week ago granting APC to go ahead with their political activities generated mixed feelings. The ruling raised new hopes particularly among APC grassroot but, the caveat derailed those hopes.
According to the ruling, APC has to go ahead with its lower level elections, but over 100 key party officials should not take part in the elections. Former President Ernest Bai Koroma too is banned from taking part in any political activity in the party. The ban became a constant source of worry for many opposition members.
Some party stalwarts accepted the verdict as it was while others opted for an appeal. A team of lawyers are working on legal documents in readiness for the battle at the court. Appeal hearings would shorty commence at the Appeals Court.
The time to be spent in the courtroom and its outcome is unpredictable. No one tells whether the appeals would be quashed. If overturned, it would be victory for the APC. But, a contrary occurrence undermines the party’s chances for a victory in 2023. No one can be deceived by the serenity of a judge, and judicial proceedings are cumbersome and time-consuming.
The time factor is weighing hard on the main opposition. Much work remains to be done in the party apart from conducting lower level elections.
At the time Conteh’s suit was being heard, calls for an out-of-court settlement were made so that the party could proceed with normal business. Those calls were turned down. Suspicion filters through APC ranks that senior party members incite and nurture conflicts in the party.
Media interviews have revealed that Conteh still stands on his grounds to see justice despite appeals for a roundtable discussion. Fighting for the common good remains his central focus.
In one of his media interviews, Conteh said he trusted no one in the old executive. He still presses his call for the old executive to go since their mandate has expired. He canvasses respect for the party’s rules.
“Every organisation has rules and regulations, and for the APC, the rules are found in the constitution,” Conteh said.
Conteh made reference to a statement made by former President Koroma during 2018 election run-off. The statement, Conteh said, indicated that the former President would resign from active politics in 90 days.
The question is why the former President still holds the forte to after three years. He also wanted to ensure that those who have cases to answer at the court be denied the chance to run for positions in the party.
“Their legal impediments should not affect us,” he warned.
He said those who were at the helm when APC lost the 2018 elections should not be there now. Staying on their seats till the 2023 election is conducted might lead to another defeat for the APC in 2023.
Conteh who many see as a stubborn fighter does not see eye-to-eye with members of the NRM (National Reformation Movement). The NRM is a breakaway group of the APC comprising mainly youths.
They earlier expressed their determination to see major constitutional reforms in the APC. NRM wanted to see Selection Clause removed, the post of Chairman and Leader separated, elections in the party be conducted by An ‘Elders’ Council.’
The ‘Selection Clause’ is a key alternative for election in the party.
Where there is a disagreement among delegates, the leader of the party may choose officials including the flag-bearer. Should the separation hold, the chairman would be the administrative head while the flag-bearer becomes leader of the party.
One of the NRM officials, Minkailu Koroma says those concerns have been addressed adding that the party is ready for business. Koroma stressed the call for roundtable discussions with Conteh for an amicable solution.
Should the call fail, APC’s future in the 2023 elections is doubtful.