The Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), also known as the Grand Old Party, was founded in April 1951, exactly ten years before Sierra Leone gained Independence in April 1961.
The party has produced illustrious leaders like Sir Milton Margai, Ahmad Tejan Kabbah and Julius Maada Bio. All three leaders have made history for the country.
Sir Milton Margai led Sierra Leone to Independence in 1961. He became the country’s first Prime Minister in 1961. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah inherited a brutal civil war in March 1996 when he became President of Sierra Leone. Under his astute leadership, the war was declared over in 2002 and lasting peace was restored.
President Julius Maada Bio won two consecutive elections in 2018 and 2023 for the SLPP. He is the first military head of state in Sierra Leone to peacefully hand over power to a democratically elected civilian administration in March 1996. The SLPP has indeed produced illustrious leaders since its establishment in April 1951.
The party is on the verge of electing a new leader who will lead it to crucial Presidential elections in November 2028. So far, there are over a dozen flag-bearer aspirants who have either openly shown interest or are quietly interested in the post of flag bearer.
The process of reviewing the party’s 2020 Constitution was suspended to allow for the process of reviewing the country’s 1991 National Constitution to be concluded. The party’s constitution must align with the national constitution. Nobody knows when the process of reviewing the country’s constitution will terminate.
There are rumours that the SLPP intends to conduct their National Delegates’ Conference to elect a new flag bearer in the first quarter of 2027. What happens if, by that time, the process of reviewing the party’s current constitution does not start? Will the party rely on its current constitution to conduct the flag bearer election?
It must be borne in mind that the party has conducted all its lower-level elections under the current 2020 Constitution, and delegates and National Officers of the party have been elected. Will the party start and conclude the review process of its current constitution ahead of the National Delegates’ Conference in the first quarter of 2027? That possibility is far-fetched! It is highly unlikely for the party to conclude any intended review of the constitution before the National Delegates’ Conference is held in the first quarter of 2027.
In electing a flag bearer for the 2028 elections, the party must take into consideration that the 2028 elections will be fought on the legacy of President Julius Maada Bio. With the Nant Power Project coming into operation in March 2027, the SLPP stands a greater chance of retaining power in 2028.
With the pace at which the Feed Salone program is going, the SLPP has a lot to talk about in 2028.
The construction of an ultra-modern conference centre at Lungi and the new Freetown International Airport at Lungi has given a positive image of Sierra Leone in the world. Even foreigners coming to Sierra Leone on vacation or for business, continue to admire our international airport and the JMB Conference Centre at Lungi.
In electing a flag bearer for the party, delegates must remember that the party does not need a controversial candidate.
At the last National Delegates Conference of the party at Aberdeen, President Bio noted that the party needs a candidate that can easily unite the country and someone that has the temperament of a good leader.
On top of that, the party needs a candidate that is easily acceptable by international partners and who can hit the ground running from day one. A candidate that understands the modus operandi of the security sector including the Police and the Army can be of great advantage to the party.
From the look of things, and with the progress being made so far, the SLPP stands on solid ground to maintain power in 2028.
That possibility largely depends on who succeeds President Bio as leader and flag bearer of the SLPP.
SLPP delegates are expected to put the interest of the country and the party above their selfish interests. They must understand that governing a country is a serious business. It is not meant for jokers. And Sierra Leoneans, both at home and abroad, are looking forward to the SLPP electing a suitable leader after President Bio. President Bio has governed the country for the past eight
years through very difficult times in the world.
May common sense prevail!
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