A recent OPINION POLL has shown that some aspirants who have expressed interest in the leadership of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party are ready to give it a try in spite of the thickening race for the seat of power.

A random local opinion poll indicated that the Vice President, Juldeh Jalloh has 3% supports to succeed President Bio.

The subsequent opinion polls also show that the Vice President is in the lead to clinch the flag bearer ship of the SLPP.

VP Juldel Jalloh is believed to be one of the strong campaigners of the SLPP to bring the party to power in 2018.

In 2023 Juldeh Jalloh was re-selected as running mate to President Julius Maada Bio and became Bio’s proactive and campaign strategist who enabled the party to clinch power for the second term.

The former leader of government business who also doubles as the former ECOWAS Speaker Mohamed Sidie Tunis got 20% in the opinion polls.

Hon. Tunis percentage keeps alternating; his bid to top shoots up in many of the week and eventually drops in other weeks.

The flag bearer position of the SLPP is a water-tight which means that any of the candidates could be potential winners.

Many stakeholders and supporters have referred to the former ECOWAS Speaker, Mohamed Tunis as SLPP ‘Jagaban’.

In terms of the humanitarian gesture, some party members and supporters say, Tunis tops the chat and can be a suitable candidate to succeed President Bio in 2028.

Musa Tarawally who defected from the APC party to the SLPP following the APC loss in 2018 got 8% in the opinion polls.

Hon. Tarawally served the APC for a decade and earned much respect and popularity during the days of former president Ernest Bia Koroma.

Some supporters also perceived him as a winnable candidate.

His percentage also swings up and down which also signifies that he is strong enough to lead the grand old party.

Tarawally contested as a presidential candidate in the political party he formed then, The Citizens Democratic Party (CDP) in 2018.

Some SLPP supporters say, the coming of Tarawally is a blessing at a time the party needs serious support to win any elections.

Dr. Alie Kabba is another strong contender who pulled 35.% in the opinion polls.

He has been a weapon to ensure a winning for the party even before elections in 2018.

Stakeholders especially in Kenema City have said SLPP supporters have much confidence in Kabba whom they say is the true candidate that can bring the party to victory again. He has the grassroots support base that is second to none.

Dr. David Sengeh is another young gentleman whom many believe to succeed President Bio and in recent times the opinion polls show a clear 33 %which have made him to be among the strong candidates competing for the party flagship ti stand for the nation’s presidency.

Though he has faced serious bashing at the political level, but he remains a steadfast politician.

His radical inclusion drive has powered the new direction regime with many goodies.

He has been parading across Sierra Leone to sell out Bio’s radical inclusion movement and for stakeholders to aware of the importance of good governance.

Hon. Dr. Kandeh Yumkella is also one among the top-would-be candidates with 1% in the opinion polls.

He also left the SLPP and formed his own political party, however, he has returned to his party because he deemed it prudent that his father is part of the founding members of the SLPP.

It could be recalled that this poll was conducted on among SLPP supporters and members nationwide with a sampling of 200 people.

The single question puts to them was, “Who will best step into the big shoes of President Bio as leader of the SLPP and win the 2028 elections for the Party?”

No names were suggested by the pollsters but out of a sample of 200, 3% said VP Juldeh Jalloh is a suitable choice.

20% said Hon. Sidie Tunis, Hon. Musa Tarawally 8 %, Dr. Alie Kabba, 35% said Chief Minister Dr. David Sengeh 33% and only 1% said Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella former leader of the National Grand Coalition party.