The governing Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), even though it’s one of, if not the oldest in political parties in West African sub-region, is yet to learn from the mistakes it has continued to make. And those mistakes had had significant consequences leading to the losses of elections carelessly to opponents.

Without exaggeration, the party bigwigs always do something that they deem important to themselves without considering the least consequences on the party and its membership.

One of the main problems that is still militating against the party’s progress in general is favouritism. Many SLPP big vons do not have the party interest at heart, thus can do anything to satisfy their own personal interests.

The consequences of such ugly development cannot be overemphasized. But who really cares?

In many occasions, hardworking party loyalists, those who identify themselves with the party in thick and thin are always sidestepped at all levels, from national headquarters, down to zonal level in favour of those from nowhere for obvious reasons. This explains why SLPP most often lose especially bye-elections because those who deserve to be given the symbol are deliberately marginalized.

One of the many cases in point is the awarding of symbol in constituency 010 in Kailahun district where it is gathered that potential and popular candidates were snubbed by the constituency executives, although the awardee eventually won as a result of the place being the party’s stronghold.

Worst still, during that time some of the candidates who felt aggrieved as a result of the same attitude of the executives, decided to contest as independent candidates in contravention of the party’s constitution.

It has again become clear that similar situation is brewing in that constituency where those who ran away from the party during the trying period have again returned wanting to be given symbol for the pending January 27th 2021 parliamentary bye-election over those who stayed and worked for the party amidst all odds following the death of Hon. Samuel Panda who served his people diligently.

The party is very much aware of this blatant violation of the party’s constitution by some members of constituency executives with impunity without the least regard to its consequences.

Ten candidates initially expressed interest for the SLPP symbol and were interviewed on 8th of January, 2021 in Kailahun town by the stakeholders including the District Executives, Ministers and Members of Parliament.

After the interview, it is understood that the interview committee recommended only four candidates including Mr. Mathew Musa Yokie, Zainab Kama Brima, Simeon Vandi and Rtd. Sahr John Panda.

It could be recalled that during the 2018 SLPP primaries for Constituency 010 in Manowa, seven candidates contested for the SLPP symbol. Samuel Panda and Zainab Brima got 7 votes each whilst Matthew Musa Yokie managed to get 5 votes. After the district, regional, and national executive assessments, Matthew Musa Yokie was among the SLPP parliamentary candidates whose names were published by the SLPP Secretary General for nomination as the SLPP Parliamentary Candidates for the 2018 election. It was also published by some local newspapers.

But what beat the imagination of every level headed party loyalist was the fact that on the day of the nomination at NEC district office in Kailahun town,  Matthew Musa Yokie’s name was magically removed from the nomination list and replaced by late Hon. Samuel Panda for Constituency 010.

The ugly development reportedly angered Madam Zainab Kama Brima who instantly resigned from SLPP and contested as independent candidate against late Hon. Samuel Panda but eventually lost to the latter.

Madam Zainab Brima’s singular act of resignation who has already signed the SLPP declaration form and later contested against the party’s candidate for 2018 parliamentary election is said to be in contravention of the party’s reviewed constitution which stipulates that all candidates must agree with the party’s decisions.

What angered many people most is the fact that Madam Zainab who is now going all over the place in desperation to be awarded SLPP symbol did not only terminate her membership from the party but abandoned it all together at a very difficult time when the party needed her most.

It is against this backdrop and many other things that the SLPP faithful are asking the party hierarchy to beware of those who for once had abandoned the party for self-interest and again want to return.

There is no secret about it that Article 2, F,3(c) made it very clear that “Any member who contests against the party’s candidate in any election (Local Council, Parliamentary and Presidential) and in whatever capacity will be in breach of the party’ s constitution and shall therefore be expelled.”

If truly the party goes by the dictates of this provision, then Mrs. Brima is not a qualified candidate given that she only reregistered with the SLPP after she had left and contested against SLPP candidate in the 2018 election.

Without compromise therefore, Mrs. Brima stands to be expelled from the party for contesting against the party’s candidate, Mr. Panda in that elections.

Article 16B2b also states that even if one is a registered member in the category of Chief Patron he/she must have served in that capacity continuously for a period of at least 3 years immediately after processing his or her application except in extreme circumstances wherein constituency executive will allow such person with the approval of the National Executive Council (NEC).”

It is understood that Mrs. Brima has still not meet all the SLPP readmission requirements on time to contest the forthcoming by-election in Constituency 010.

She is yet to observe Article C (a,b and c) before she can be qualified to contest for the symbol.

Many SLPP supporters in Kailahun district have expressed concern over the decision of their stakeholders to select Mrs. Zainab Kama Brima who contested against the SLPP candidate to be presented to the Leader of the party whilst dropping qualified candidates who have upheld the party’s constitution.

“This is a very bad precedent the party wants to set,” the irate members fumed, arguing that other contestants might petition the decision. “SLPP must be warned against future embarrassment,” they insist.

It’s an open secret that SLPP Parliamentary candidates were affected by independent candidates during the 2018 election who lost to the latter in Kailahun and other parts of the country. It’s against this background the party has been warned against given the symbol to Zainab Kama Brima to avoid destroying the party’s chances of winning.