In the face of electoral justice campaign, ex-President Ernest Bai Koroma and other APC (All People’s Congress) stalwarts have combined to attack democracy, says credible sources within the party.
The electoral justice movement is led by the opposition leader, Dr. Samura Kamara who felt cheated in the June 24, 2023 elections and strives to reclaim allegedly stolen votes within the ambit of the law.
The electoral justice campaign hinges on the struggle to bring back APC’s victory and to hold accountable those who play any part in rigging June 24, 2023 elections.
The campaign seems to have gained ground in every part of the country, but many APC top ranks are averse to it since they believe that they too may be roped in.
If the campaign is allowed to have root, heads will roll especially APC politicians who, many say, conspire with the ruling class to undermine the June polls.
According to political analysts, the only way to halt and defeat the ‘electoral justice’ campaign is to bring in flag-bearer aspirants to the political limelight.
With more flag-bearers pouring in, the ‘electoral Justice’ campaign will be derailed and rendered meaningless.
The most popular question is how can we opt for ‘electoral Justice when the people are about to hold a National Delegates’ Conference to choose a flag-bearer and fill in other executive posts next year and ultimately elections in 2028. It is hoped that the international community would support elections and later think about electoral justice.
Dr. Ibrahim Bangura who seems to be the most popular candidate has appeared at the political stage and mobilizing support for his presidential ambition. The young politician is going in for the party’s flag.
Bangura is believed to have been picked by ex-President Koroma and has almost reached every nook and cranny of Sierra Leone seeking the people’s endorsement of his intention to go in for the presidency.
Next in line is Mohamed Ormodu Kamara aka Money Jagaban who also struggles tooth and nail for APC’s flag.
He hails from the Eastern region but carries a typical Northern name.
Like Dr Bangura, Ormodu Kamara has campaigned in several communities to become the party’s next flag-bearer if the elections hold in 2028.
Kamara is a political heavyweight within the APC in light of magnanimity especially the role he played while the party stayed out of governance for three months during post-election stalemate. He offered allowances to parliamentarians, mayors, chairmen and councilors in compensation for salaries lost during the boycott.
His magnanimity to the grassroots in difficult moments also could not go unnoticed, and it is clear that he could turn situation in his favour. Another agile politician, Dr Richard Conteh is also trekking in the field to make his intention known to the grassroots. He was Chief of Staff in the Ernest Koroma regime.
Few days ago, he was in the Eastern town of Kailahun selling his political ideology to the people who he reached out for votes in the upcoming National Delegates’ Conference.
He is sure that there would be a convention at all cost and that Samura Kamara should go home and rest.
Apart from the three, reports seen on social media platforms show that Chernor Maju Bah is also actively campaigning for the flag-bearer post in the party.
Bah is Samura Kamara’s running mate in the 2023 elections, and people are lost in wonders doubt why he fails to stand with his boss for “electoral justice.”
As the party’s executive members and flag-bearers brace up for 2028, Samura Kamara, the current presidential candidate shows no readiness for another elections until the true winner of the June polls is established and the perpetrators of election rigging brought to justice.
His move is being supported by few like-minded APC politicians who subscribe to the notion that the irregularities of the June polls should be addressed before going in for 2028.
Although many see the Deputy Chairman, Ambassador Foday Osman Yansaneh as an antagonist to the “electoral justice” campaign, he once proved himself upright when he said “we cannot move to 2028 if we don’t get it right in 2023.” Samura is also being supported by men in the street who believe that he is the actual winner of the June elections.
His “electoral justice” movement is gaining ground at every tick of the clock as groups of APC grassroots have been dispatched to various parts in the country to canvass the grassroots to fight for their 2023 votes.
With such messages, majority of APC’s rank and file seem to have thrown their weight behind the opposition leader, a man who they consider as leading with clean hands. Crowds follow him everywhere he goes even if unannounced, while the other executive members and flag-bearer hopefuls struggle to get a handful of followers.
It has been argued consistently that Samura’s crowd can overpower that of all APC flag-bearer aspirants put together, a factor that further cast dark shadows about 2028 elections. In the struggle between the two opposing forces-the Samura Kamara camp and the party’s executive -there is a third party in the drama-the international community (UN, EU, ECOWAS, AU, Commonwealth, World Bank, IMF, US, UK, Germany, Ireland, France). These countries and institutions are integral to national development despite contrary views. The country starves if they hold their financial and technical support, and they have vowed not to cooperate with government until the recommendations of the Tripartite Committee are implemented.
Kamara also heavily banks on the support of the international community who have withheld funds from government and financed the election probe which has been completed and recommendations proffered.
84 recommendations have come out bordering on electoral reforms and accountability, and government is under pressure to implement them.
International moral guarantors have, on several occasions, met with Sierra Leonean authorities to assess the state of implementation of Tripartite Recommendations.
If implemented to the letter, there is hope that Samura would make it and fans and flag-bearers of 2028 thrown into oblivion.
As the party faces such threat, it is being worsened by the actions of the former President and other APC’s heavyweight politicians.
Recently, the former President hit hard his hand-picked successor, Samura Kamara for being hypocritical with the masses as far as the June elections are concerned.
Koroma cautioned Kamara to say the truth to the people and be consistent with his stance he has taken referring to the ‘peace deal’ with President Julius Maada Bio which was preceded by a secret meeting between the two.
“Don’t tell the international community one thing and tell the grassroots a different story.”
Samura Kamara’s decision to take a seat at the negotiation table, according to the former President, means game is over and the country must settle for 2028 elections.
If this notion is correct and endorsed, it means President Bio will smoothly sail through his second term and to hold elections in 2028. Going strictly by this notion, the former President hoped that APC will take over state governance in 2028 although there is seemingly a big question mark. It has been made clear by SLPP (Sierra Leone People’s Party) top-notch politicians that they will not hand over power to the APC come what may, and they are ready to resist the international community.
However, APC politicians still have confidence in the former President that APC will come to power in 2028 despite allegations of undermining democracy in Sierra Leone.
It was after the former President’s declaration that game is over that several APC politicians came up for the party’s flag roaming about all over the country selling their political ideologies to the grassroots.
But, there is a conundrum, as majority of Sierra Leoneans seem no longer ready to take part in any election until past wrongs are corrected.
With such a growing conflict, it is safe to say that the party is aptly divided as one faction supports the electoral justice campaign while the other stand up for 2028 elections.