In every thriving democracy, a robust and organized opposition plays an essential role in checking the excesses of the ruling government, holding it accountable, and providing a credible alternative for national leadership. However, in Sierra Leone, the main opposition party, the All People’s Congress (APC), has become a shadow of its former self. It is a party riddled with internal conflicts, unclear strategies, and diminishing influence. Once the dominant political force in the country, the APC now appears disoriented, weak, and incapable of mounting an effective challenge against the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) under President Julius Maada Bio.
The APC’s current position is not just concerning—it is dangerous for the health of Sierra Leone’s democracy. When the opposition is feeble, the government is left unchecked, and the people are left without a voice.
Post-2018 Defeat and the Leadership Vacuum:
The APC’s downfall began with its loss in the 2018 general elections. After a decade in power, the party’s defeat should have served as a wake-up call to reflect, restructure, and rebrand. Instead, it plunged deeper into internal crises. Leadership squabbles, unresolved disputes over the party’s constitution, and the never-ending court cases contributed to a paralysis that still persists.
The most damaging element has been the lack of cohesive leadership. The party continues to revolve around former President Ernest Bai Koroma, whose long shadow still influences decisions from the background. While he remains respected in some quarters, many believe his continued involvement hinders the emergence of fresh leadership. The APC has failed to reinvent itself, clinging instead to old faces, outdated strategies, and personality cults. As a result, it has lost its political sharpness.
The battle for who should lead the APC—particularly between the likes of Samura Kamara, Joseph F. Kamara, and other emerging figures—has been toxic. Rather than positioning itself as a government-in-waiting, the APC has become a party in perpetual internal wrangling.
Disorganization and Strategic Confusion:
An effective opposition requires a clear message and strategic direction. Unfortunately, the APC lacks both. While the SLPP government has handed the opposition numerous opportunities to gain political traction—rising inflation, abuse of power, corruption, bad governance—the APC has failed to capitalize on them meaningfully.
Instead of proactive press conferences, alternative policies, or a well-structured shadow government, the APC has resorted to sporadic social media posts and reactionary statements. Its communication machinery is fragmented, and its youth base is disillusioned. At a time when Sierra Leone needs an assertive and visionary opposition, the APC has become reactive, disconnected from grassroots struggles, and lacking in creativity.
Where are the monthly policy statements? Where are the people-centered campaigns? Where is the community engagement to regain trust from the electorate? These essential tools of opposition politics are missing. The APC has failed to take the lead in advocating for issues such as the Kush drug crisis, the deteriorating education system, or the failed promises of the “Feed Salone” initiative. In short, the APC is missing in action.
Weak Parliamentary Influence:
The APC’s weakness is also glaring in Parliament. Despite holding a significant number of seats, APC MPs have failed to provide the rigorous oversight expected of an opposition. Debates are often lackluster, bills pass with minimal resistance, and very few members have stood out as bold voices of the people.
The Bio administration has exploited this weakness to push through unpopular laws and maintain tight control over governance. The Criminal Procedure Act, Finance Bills, and constitutional amendments have all passed with limited scrutiny or resistance. A weak parliamentary presence means the government rules without the necessary checks, a dangerous trend for democratic governance.
Moreover, the APC’s participation in parliamentary boycotts has not been strategically sound. While protest is a valid political tool, the absence of the opposition from legislative debates only further silences the voices of their constituents and strengthens the ruling party’s grip on power.
Youth Disillusionment and Public Disconnect:
One of the most troubling consequences of the APC’s weakness is the growing disconnection between the party and the people, especially the youth. Sierra Leone’s youthful population is increasingly losing faith in both the ruling and opposition parties. The APC has failed to rebrand itself as a youthful, progressive force with modern solutions to Sierra Leone’s growing socioeconomic problems.
Instead of grooming a new generation of leaders, the party remains trapped in gerontocracy. Young APC supporters are used more as cheerleaders and foot soldiers rather than as thinkers, strategists, and leaders. The lack of ideological clarity and failure to craft a vision that resonates with today’s realities further alienates them from the party’s cause.
As economic conditions worsen under the SLPP, many expect the APC to lead mass mobilizations, civic engagements, and grassroots resistance. But the party is often silent, hesitant, or unprepared. This passivity creates a vacuum that may be filled by non-political actors, leading to social instability.
Ethnic and Regional Branding: A Liability:
Historically, the APC has enjoyed strong support in the north and parts of the west. However, instead of working to nationalize its image, the party has allowed itself to be pigeonholed as a “northern party,” just as the SLPP is often seen as a “southern party.” This regional and ethnic branding is a liability in a country still battling with tribal divisions and political exclusion.
The APC’s failure to make significant inroads into the southeast is telling. Efforts to build cross-regional alliances, embrace inclusivity, and attract diverse voices have been insufficient. In modern politics, numbers and diversity win elections. Until the APC becomes truly national in outlook, it risks becoming a permanent opposition.
Uncertainty Around 2028 and Beyond:
As Sierra Leone looks to the 2028 elections, the APC’s prospects appear bleak unless it undertakes radical internal reforms. The flagbearership question remains unresolved, the party’s constitution remains contentious, and its operational structures are dysfunctional.
For the party to pose any real challenge in the next elections, it must:
Conduct a genuine internal reform process; elect credible and unifying leadership, reconnect with the grassroots through real, on-the-ground organizing; present a clear national vision with achievable goals; empower its youthful base with leadership opportunities and, to develop a credible policy alternative to the ruling SLPP.
Time is running out. The electorate is watching, and new political movements are emerging. If the APC does not rise from its current disarray, it risks becoming obsolete in the rapidly changing political landscape of Sierra Leone.
A Call to Wake Up or Fade Out:
The APC is no longer the formidable political machine it once was. It is now a fractured, confused, and uninspiring opposition force. At a time when Sierra Leoneans desperately seek hope and direction, the APC offers uncertainty and disarray. A weak opposition is not only a problem for the party but a threat to national democracy.
President Bio and the SLPP may continue to falter, but unless the APC reawakens, reorganizes, and redefines itself, it will remain a bystander in the country’s political narrative. Sierra Leone needs an opposition that can challenge power, articulate policy, inspire change, and lead with integrity. As things stand, the APC is not that opposition. The time to rise is now, or forever be consigned to political irrelevance.