A senior figure within the National Advisory Council (NAC) of the All People’s Congress (APC) has made a bold and urgent appeal for the party to reject sentiment and political baggage in its choice of flagbearer ahead of the 2028 elections.
In an exclusive interview with Fritong Post, the veteran APC politician, who wish to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal within, said the future of the party and the nation’s democratic progress depends on having a leader with unquestionable integrity, credibility, and moral authority.
The NAC member criticized what he described as a concerning trend of aspiring candidates whose pasts are riddled with scandal, controversy and unresolved allegations of corruption. Those with adverse findings from the Commissions of Inquiry and others who have repaid billions of leones in stolen public funds through out-of-court settlements with the ACC, he said, do not seek progress for the APC and the nation. Their sole desire is another chance to loot and exploit.
“Too many of our comrades are coming forward with the hope that the APC will overlook their baggage. But this is not a time for gambling with the future of Sierra Leone,” he said. “This is a time for clarity, honesty, and leadership that inspires public trust.”
He emphasized that the APC must now choose whether to continue in opposition through political miscalculations or rise as a credible alternative government that the people of Sierra Leone can believe in.
“We cannot win the trust of the electorate with a candidate whose name evokes doubt, suspicion or scandal. Our flagbearer must be as clean as a whistle.”
When pressed on who he believes fits this ideal, the NAC member was unequivocal:
“Dr. Ibrahim Bangura stands out head and shoulders above the rest. He represents a new kind of leadership that is visionary, untainted, and deeply committed to public service. He has no skeletons in his cupboard, no political debts to repay, and no stains on his record. That’s the kind of candidate we need.”
He warned that failure to heed the lessons of the past could once again cost the APC dearly, citing the disappointing losses in the 2018 and 2023 general elections. “We’ve made mistakes before, choosing candidates based on internal power games rather than public appeal. We cannot afford to repeat those mistakes in 2028.”
The NAC member acknowledged that naming a preferred candidate might be controversial, but insisted that silence would be more dangerous. “This is not about favoritism; this is about survival of the party. And I’m duty-bound to speak the truth, even if it ruffles feathers. If we are serious about returning to State House, we must rally around a candidate who not only unites the party but also commands national respect.”
With the APC’s lower-level elections set to produce delegates who will ultimately choose the party’s next standard-bearer, the senior party figure urged those delegates to put patriotism above patronage.
“Sierra Leone is watching. The people are tired of recycled politicians and worn-out narratives. They are looking for someone new, someone clean, someone who represents hope. That person is Dr. Ibrahim Bangura.”
The time for compromise is over; the time for credible leadership is now. We must choose a leader who can earn the trust of the people and govern with integrity, he concluded.