From the dust of a controversial 2023 election defeat to their strategic grassroots mobilization, the red machinery is thirsty for leadership. But thirst alone is not enough in the cutthroat arena of Sierra Leonean politics. The question that looms large is not just whether the APC wants power, but whether they are prepared to pay the price—politically, strategically, and morally—to win it in 2028.
With the 2028 general elections inching closer, every move by the APC is under intense scrutiny, both from their supporters and their critics. Yet, the road to power will not be paved with nostalgia or slogans. It will demand reform, accountability, unity, and bold leadership. Whether the APC can afford that cost—literally and figuratively—remains to be seen.
There’s no denying it—the APC is hungry. Since their controversial loss in the 2018 and 2023 elections to President Julius Maada Bio and the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), the APC has been clawing for a political resurgence. Their base remains vast and loyal, especially in the northern provinces and parts of the Western Area, where the memories of infrastructure expansion and economic stimulus under President Ernest Bai Koroma still linger. Their support among the youth is slowly rebuilding, riding on frustration with SLPP’s economic mismanagement and the deepening hardship across the nation.
But thirst is a dangerous thing. It can drive determination or blind desperation. While the APC’s desire to return to State House is understandable, it must not be reduced to a mere revenge mission or an obsession with power for its own sake. The party must understand that 2028 is not just an election—it is a referendum on their credibility, their capacity, and their commitment to rebuilding Sierra Leone.
Before the APC can dream of State House, it must first clean its house. The party remains fractured along lines of regionalism, generational divide, and unresolved leadership disputes. The long-standing tension between the old guard and the new generation of reformists continues to cast a shadow over unity efforts. The issue of who leads the party into the 2028 elections—be it Dr. Samura Kamara, Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara, or a surprise candidate—will define the APC’s chances more than any campaign promise.
If the party fails to resolve its leadership crisis through transparent and democratic internal processes, it will walk into 2028 divided and weakened. The SLPP will exploit every fracture. Political discipline, policy clarity, and national messaging must replace bickering and entitlement. Rebranding must be done—not only to attack Bio’s failures but to inspire hope for something better.
APC also needs to pay the cost of moral redemption. Many Sierra Leoneans still remember the allegations of corruption, arrogance, and complacency during the latter years of APC rule. The party cannot walk into 2028 pretending 2018 never happened. Apology, reform, and a clear blueprint for good governance are part of the price they must pay.
If the APC wants to reclaim power, 2028 will not be business as usual. The ruling SLPP, already preparing its 2028 defense, is likely to pull every lever of incumbency—state media, security forces, electoral machinery, and international alliances. APC must be ready to contest not just at the ballot box, but at every level of civic engagement.
This means putting in place a comprehensive election monitoring structure, investing in legal teams, training polling agents, and building strong alliances with civil society groups. It also requires early voter education, especially in rural areas where disinformation and vote buying often determine outcomes. APC must field credible parliamentary and local council candidates to build momentum across all fronts.
Campaigning will demand more than rhetoric. It will require sacrifice—of egos, of old-school politics, and of short-term thinking. The APC must speak the language of national unity, offer a practical economic recovery plan, and show visible concern for vulnerable populations. This is how to win hearts in 2028—not just with red T-shirts, but with redemptive leadership.
Should the APC regain power in 2028, the challenge will only have just begun. Sierra Leoneans are tired of governments that win elections and lose focus. The people will demand immediate action on corruption, economic stabilization, and youth empowerment. The margin for error will be razor-thin.
APC will need to govern with humility, transparency, and a fierce commitment to delivering results. Any repeat of past mistakes will cost them dearly, and possibly return the country to another vicious cycle of political disappointment. The post-election era must focus on inclusive governance, decentralization, and social cohesion—not revenge politics or settling old scores.
If they fail to deliver on promises, the APC will be seen as no different from the SLPP they now criticize. If they succeed, they will finally break the curse of alternating disappointment that has plagued Sierra Leone’s politics for decades.
The APC wants power. That much is obvious. But the real question is whether they are prepared to pay for it—not with money, but with reform, honesty, unity, and service to the people. Sierra Leone’s political landscape is changing. Voters are more aware, the youth more restless, and the nation more fragile than ever.
2028 will be the defining battle. Not just between red and green, but between past and future, deception and delivery, despair and hope. If the APC truly wants to win, they must do more than thirst—they must earn it.
Let’s see what happens before, during, and after the 2028 elections. The future of Sierra Leone may very well depend on it.