12 Individuals Qualify For SLPP Flagbearer Ticket …Mohamed Tunis, Fatima Bio, Chief Minister Sengeh & Others Face Disqualification
By VOS Staff Writer
The Secretary General of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), Paran Tarawallie, has stated emphatically that only twelve (12) individuals currently meet the constitutional requirements to contest for the party’s flagbearer position.
Speaking during a recent interview, Tarawallie explained that, according to the SLPP Constitution, any aspirant seeking to contest for the party’s flagbearership must have attained the status of a Distinguished Grand Chief Patron. Based on official party records, he said, only twelve members presently satisfy this constitutional threshold.
His clarification comes amid increasing speculation within the party, as over ten prominent political figures have been widely touted as possible contenders for the party’s top position. Among those frequently mentioned are Chief Minister Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, Mohamed Tunis, Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, Timothy Kabba, First Lady Fatima Maada Bio, Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai, Francis Ben Kaifala, and others.
However, Tarawallie stressed that none of the aforementioned individuals has formally declared an intention to contest for the flagbearer position.
The Secretary General further explained that eligibility for the Distinguished Grand Chief Patron status is strictly defined. According to him, the status is automatically conferred on individuals who have served the party for a minimum of five years in any of the following five key positions:
• National Chairman
• Deputy National Chairman
• Party Leader
• Deputy Party Leader
• Secretary General
In addition, the status is also extended to former Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates of the party. However, he clarified that the SLPP currently has no former Presidential or Vice Presidential candidate, as the incumbent President and Vice President are still in office.
Tarawallie went on to list the twelve recognized Distinguished Grand Chief Patrons of the party as:
• President Julius Maada Bio
• Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh
• Jimmy Batilo Songa
• Prince Harding
• Umaru Napoleon Koroma
• JJ Saffa
• John Oponjo Benjamin
• Sulaiman Banja Tejan-Sie
• Robert Kondema Kargbo
• Dr. Sama Banya
• Momodu Koroma
• Paran Tarawallie himself
He emphasized that only individuals within this category who have met the five-year service requirement in the stated leadership positions are constitutionally eligible to contest for the flagbearership.
Based on this interpretation and available records, Tarawallie stated that Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh is presently the only widely mentioned figure who meets all constitutional requirements.
Although the Vice President has not publicly declared his ambition, party insiders suggest he may be strategically positioning himself through quiet consultations and background political engagements.
Mohamed Tunis, who holds the honorary title of Jagaban of the SLPP, has been highly visible across the country, actively engaging party members and supporters. While many acknowledge his significant contributions to the party, critics argue that his strategy relies heavily on financial influence—an approach that has ignited debate within party ranks.
Despite his efforts and generosity toward the party, party records indicate that Tunis does not hold the status of Distinguished Grand Chief Patron, which, by constitutional implication, automatically disqualifies him from contesting for the flagbearer position.
In the case of Francis Ben Kaifala, party sources claim that official SLPP membership records do not list him as a registered member of the party. If confirmed, this would immediately disqualify him from contesting, notwithstanding his national prominence and widely praised role in the fight against corruption.
First Lady Fatima Maada Bio, the only woman frequently mentioned among the potential aspirants, has consistently maintained that she has contributed immensely to the growth and development of the SLPP. She is the leader of Team “Ebema Gbi”, which she claims commands significant influence within the party’s delegate structure.
Her supporters point to her involvement in party mobilisation, infrastructure development, and welfare support to party members nationwide. Fatima Bio has also stated that she has regularly paid her dues as a Distinguished Grand Chief Patron, expressing surprise at questions surrounding her eligibility.
However, party records reportedly do not list her as a Distinguished Grand Chief Patron, a situation which, if unchanged, automatically disqualifies her from contesting under the party’s constitution.
For Chief Minister Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, his increasing visibility within SLPP circles has drawn both admiration and skepticism. Widely regarded as the leader of the Radical Inclusion Movement, his close association with SLPP National Chairman Jimmy Batilo Songa has fueled speculation that he may enjoy backing from influential elements within the party hierarchy.
While critics argue that such proximity could influence internal party dynamics, supporters describe it as normal political collaboration. Nevertheless, Dr. Sengeh is yet to attain the status of Distinguished Grand Chief Patron, which constitutionally disqualifies him from contesting for the flagbearership at this time.
The SLPP leadership has reiterated that the flagbearer selection process remains open and firmly anchored in the party constitution. The party insists that eligibility will be determined strictly by verifiable records and constitutional provisions, not by popularity, speculation, or financial influence.
As the SLPP moves closer to formal declarations and internal electoral processes, attention is firmly fixed on how the party will navigate what is shaping up to be one of its most closely watched and consequential internal contests in recent years.
