In a bold and electrifying declaration that has sent ripples across Sierra Leone’s political landscape, Alhaji Mohamed Warisay, the vibrant and uncompromising spokesman for the Electoral Justice Movement, has declared that President Julius Maada Bio must hand over executive power to Dr. Samura Mathew Wilson Kamara, the presidential candidate of the All People’s Congress (APC), following what he insists was a fraudulent 2023 election.
Warisay described the 2023 elections as “one of the darkest chapters in our nation’s democratic history”—a calculated theft of the people’s will. With fire in his voice and conviction in his tone, he proclaimed, “Samura Kamara didn’t lose the elections; he was robbed. And now, justice is prevailing. Bio must relinquish power to the rightful winner.”
Warisay’s claims are not without weight. He pointed to the recently published findings of the Tripartite Committee—a committee set up to investigate the disputed June 2023 elections—as vindication of the APC’s long-standing claims of electoral malpractice. The committee reportedly issued 84 to 85 detailed recommendations, many of which, Warisay argues, clearly call for electoral rectification and transitional justice. He implored President Bio to implement these recommendations in full, beginning with the ultimate act of democratic accountability: stepping down in favor of Dr. Samura Kamara.
Warisay stated, “The 2023 elections were not won by President Bio. He seized power through manipulation, interference, and institutional compromise. Samura Kamara has fought tooth and nail, not with weapons, but with integrity, patience, and undying belief in the democratic process. Today, that fight has been validated by the Tripartite Committee. It is now incumbent upon Bio to accept that truth and act accordingly—for the peace, unity, and future of Sierra Leone.”
According to Warisay, the APC has been calm and measured in its reaction, choosing the path of lawful protest and patient endurance. He reminded the nation that despite provocations, illegal detentions, and state-sponsored intimidation, the party and its leadership stood firmly on the side of law and due process. “But justice delayed cannot be justice denied,” Warisay thundered. “The time to act is now. President Bio must do the honorable thing.”
Warisay echoed the growing calls among APC stalwarts and party faithful for President Bio to prioritize national interest over personal pride. Many within the opposition and even in the international diplomatic community are urging for a peaceful transition that would restore faith in the electoral system and Sierra Leone’s democratic standing. “This is bigger than Samura or Bio,” Warisay said. “This is about the soul of our democracy, about whether the ballot box still holds meaning in this country.”
The spokesman was quick to dismiss statements made by former APC minister and political elder, Honourable Ibrahim Bundu, known as “IB,” who recently described the pursuit of electoral justice as a futile and divisive exercise. Warisay did not mince words: “IB’s remarks are regrettable, unpatriotic, and un-APC. No genuine APC stalwart would question the validity of the fight for electoral truth. We reject his opinion with the contempt it deserves.”
He continued, “To take such a position against the will of millions who believe in Dr. Samura Kamara, who believe in electoral justice, is to spit in the face of democracy. IB has alienated himself from the aspirations of the APC base and the democratic conscience of this country.”
Warisay reaffirmed the APC’s unwavering position: The fight for electoral justice is non-negotiable. The APC is not seeking chaos, he emphasized, but order, built on truth. “We are not asking for a coup; we are demanding what was freely given by the people at the ballot box. We want a peaceful and constitutional transition based on the facts now exposed by the Tripartite Committee.”
The Electoral Justice Movement has launched a mass mobilization campaign across the country, educating the public on the Tripartite Committee’s findings and rallying support for a non-violent demand for transition. Flyers, town hall meetings, radio discussions, and social media campaigns are already saturating the airwaves, reminding Sierra Leoneans of their stolen voice.
As the political pressure mounts on State House, the international community is also watching closely. Regional organizations and donor partners have long expressed concern about the lack of transparency in Sierra Leone’s electoral process and governance. Warisay’s message to them was clear: “Now is the time to side with democracy. Silence in the face of injustice is complicity.”
He concluded with a call to President Bio: “You have a chance to rewrite your legacy. You can be remembered as a dictator who clung to power, or as a patriot who bowed to justice. The choice is yours. Dr. Samura Kamara is ready. The APC is ready. The people are ready. Sierra Leone deserves her dignity restored.”
As this chapter of Sierra Leone’s political journey unfolds, one thing is clear: the demand for electoral justice is not fading away. It is growing, galvanized by voices like Mohamed Warisay’s—loud, passionate, and unyielding in their quest for truth.
