The main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party seems to have beaten the hatches over the turbulent waves of intra-party rifts and political wrangling.

It appears now that an air of soothing calm is pervading the atmosphere everywhere in mostly APC’s strongholds, north-west of Sierra Leone.

There are talks of APC comeback victory among supporters in June 2023 polls. Sierra Leoneans who are not APC themselves are joining the chorus of approval for the new man, Mohamed Kamara aka JAGABAN for his richness and fitness to be appointed as Dr. Samura Kamara’s running mate. A good number of APC supporters are also throwing their weight behind CHERICOCO (Hon. Chernorh Rahmadan Maju Bah) to retain his previous post of 2018 as APC’s running mate.

With marked progress, APC elected it presidential candidate, Dr. Samura Kamara, for 2023 elections. Last week Sunday 19 February, it was APC’s final day of nomination in Makeni in which the party delegates had the chance to vote in aspirants to man the party.

The names of some veteran politicians again popped up as they hold top most positions in the party. Mr. Minkailu Mansaray succeeds former president Dr. Ernest Koroma as APC chairman. Lawyer Lansana Dumbuya has replaced Amb. Alhaji Osman Foday Yansanneh as APC’s Secretary General.

The long serving party since Sierra Leone’s Independence, 1961, has governed the country with the longest years in power than the sitting government of Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP).

APC recently suffered defeat by SLPP in 2018 polls. Sierra Leone constitution runs a five-year term limit for presidency. Both parties have ruled the country finishing two terms in office. Late President Dr. Alhaji Ahmed Tejan Kabba of the SLPP ruled between 1996 and 2007. While former president Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma governed the nation between 2007 and 2018.

But a cloud of doubt hangs over the incumbent president Julius Maada Bio over the possibility to win and run his second term. Bio’s government is accused of corruption and heavy-handedness of police who are killing innocent civilians; such is a violation of human rights. Some APC politicians are not spared. A number of them have faced prison sentences. APC’s secretary general lawyer Dumbuya was allegedly beaten by security operatives on Wednesday February 22 APC march of victory to the capital after its delegate conference. Mr. Bio is facing a serious challenge as his government battles to keep down the hyper-inflation. Prices of commodities are shooting up daily.

A reverse in trend is the hottest call among average Sierra Leoneans who are groaning under the weight of hardship.

The people need changes to happen in the economy and prices of commodities. The main opposition has not been performing its oversight role against the government as it was in deep logjam. It has had several petitions, litigations and injunctions. APC rookie politicians decided to take the party to court as recourse. But members of the opposition alleged that those politicians are being backed by government operatives in order to wrestle APC party to the mud. The old tricks played by petitioners seem to fade away, but may bounce back to get APC backward.

Aspirants who contested against Dr. Samura Kamara might have resorted to their old tricks. They may have already told their supporters not to vote in Dr. Samura in June polls. It is clear that APC presidential aspirants are still not in unison as the party sees a replica of 2018 APC’s delegate convention. Party supporters fear court injunctions as the party elects its presidential candidate and executive. As all these happen, Sierra Leoneans await to see what APC is to come as they hope for a comeback victory. But as the rifts continue in silence, can APC new chairman be able to bring peace among APCians ?  Can Samura have an easy ride in the party if became the next president of Sierra Leone?.