By Kelvin Jay
The Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) has reignited political debate by pushing a narrative of long-term dominance, with some party members declaring intentions to remain in power for the next 20 years—a stance at odds with the opposition’s claims of a traditional 10-year power rotation.
President Julius Maada Bio, during a recent engagement at the SLPP Party headquarters in Freetown, firmly rejected assertions that a political party can only govern for two terms. He clarified that the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone restricts Presidential terms for individuals, not political parties.
“There is nowhere in the 1991 Constitution that says a political party can only rule for two terms,” President Bio asserted.
Following the President’s comments, senior SLPP members and aspiring national officers have echoed this stance. Hon. Paran Tarawally, a candidate for the Secretary General position, and Moses Mambu, vying for the role of National Public Relations Officer, both reinforced the vision of a two-decade SLPP rule—insisting that with the right leadership, the party would secure victory in the 2028 elections and beyond.
During his campaign speech, Moses Mambu expressed unwavering confidence that the SLPP will defeat the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) in the next presidential election. Branding himself as the “political Jinamusa” of the APC, he claimed his radical and outspoken style has consistently unsettled the opposition.
“I was among the first to declare SLPP’s victory in the midst of the confusion during the 2023 elections, despite attempts by some civil society organizations to mislead the public,” Mambu stated.
He urged party delegates to elect him as the next PRO, vowing to continue the legacy of former spokespersons such as Hon. Tamba Sam and Lahai Lawrence Williams. Mambu pledged to vigorously defend the SLPP and counter APC narratives across all media platforms. He ended his speech by throwing full support behind “Team Ebema”—the political bloc led by President Bio and First Lady Fatima Bio.
Echoing similar sentiments, Hon. Paran Tarawally stated that the APC fears his candidacy because they know he can effectively counter any electoral malpractice or opposition strategy. He positioned himself as a formidable force against what he described as APC’s attempts to undermine the democratic process.
As the 2028 elections draw nearer, this bold rhetoric signals a strategic shift by the SLPP toward long-term political consolidation—a move that will likely spark renewed constitutional, political, and civic debate about governance, term limits, and democratic rotation of power in Sierra Leone.
