By Ragan M. Conteh

Both Sierra Leone Peoples party (SLPP) and the All People’s Congress (APC) supporters have forecast two of the flagbearers: the Vice President of Sierra Leone, Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh and Hon Chernor Maju Bah aka Chericoco to lead the two political parties in the country.

Many say if the two political heavyweights win the flagship position of their political parties it will become a battle for supremacy.

“Who is who if the two go for the battle for  Presidency?”

In parliament, an SLPP MP heaped accolades to the Vice President Juldeh Jalloh for his unwavering commitment to foster development and for his obedience towards his immediate boss President Julius Maada Bio.

The MP said power is God given and for someone to become a leader he must have possessed several qualities ranging from integrity, hard-work, firm in decisions and above all he has the power tolerance which he said VP Juldeh Jalloh have all such qualities.

“What I admire most from VP Juldeh is the fact that he is not thirst for power and he is accommodative and loved by his SLPP folks” the female MP stated.

She pointed out that if actually the SLPP elect a candidate from the Northern Region this time it will be a forgone conclusion and the APC will remain in power for donkey years.

An MP from Kenema was jokingly telling his colleagues that “Fullah President time if fat fetched. “I am sure by the time we conclude our lower level elections, VP Jalloh will be nowhere to be found in terms of the contest and he will not even faced the race” a male MP assumed.

Last year, the First Lady of Sierra Leone, Fatima Bio, lauded Vice President Dr. Mohammed Juldeh Jalloh for his instrumental role in securing the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact for the country.

The Sierra Leone’s President, Dr. Julius Maada Bio has also showered praises on his Vice President, Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, for having successfully led the process that earned Sierra Leone the MCC Compact.

Speaking at the Fairmont Hotel in Washington DC after the formal signing ceremony of the MCC Compact with the government of the United States, President Bio lavished praise on VP Juldeh Jalloh whom he said meticulously followed the process every bit of the way.“When we took up the MCC challenge, I asked VP Juldeh Jalloh to meet everyone who could help, and he did so meticulously”, the President said, adding “Thank you VP Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh. You are not here, but you deserve all the praise.”

Apart from the MCC, supporters from SLPP and other Sierra Leoneans praised Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh’s strides in bring development in the country.

However many have considered VP Jalloh as the suitable candidate to defeat any candidate from the APC and Chericoco is not an exception.

In the other hand, supporters and some stalwarts of APC have considered Hon Chernor Maju Bah as the most suitable candidate for the party’s flagship and subsequently win the elections.

Chericoco, is a seasoned politician and former Deputy Speaker seen as a unifying figure with strong ties to the party’s base and a proven track record in leadership.

His appeal to both grassroots supporters and the political elite has positioned him as a formidable contender.

Supporters of the APC have informed that Hon. Chericoco, the most experience Flagbearer Aspirant.

They said the work experience is crucial in government because it equips individuals with practical skills, help to understand the diverse needs of the public, and provides insights into the workings of government, ultimately leading to better policy and service delivery.

They said Hon. Chernor Maju Bah (Hon. Chericoco) has uninterrupted over 23 years in active Politics and 15 years in Governance Work experience, which allows him to develop transferable skills like teamwork, communication, and problem-solving, which are highly valued in governance.

They said Chericoco has explore different areas within governnace, identify their strengths and interests, which will help make informed judgement and choices, provides opportunities to build network contacts within government and Developments Partners,  which can be valuable for development opportunities.

They pointed out that Chericoco has a practical experience to demonstrate his capabilities to engage development partners support discussion and interviews more compelling, provides a firsthand understanding of the public sector, its challenges, and its unique environment.

Supporters furthered that some of the above qualities acquired over these years make Chericoco stand out amongst others and the best and only choice for 2026 APC Party Flagbearer Convention.

To navigate Sierra Leone’s challenges, including poverty, corruption, and infrastructure development, the next flagbearer must present a clear vision and strategic plan. The SLPP and APC’s success in the 2028 elections hinges on the party’s ability to carefully consider each candidate’s qualities and qualifications and win the Presidential elections.