The All People’s Congress (APC) National Executive recently held a constructive engagement with flagbearer aspirants as the party prepares for its next leadership election ahead of the 2028 general elections.
The meeting brought together senior party leaders and several APC members who are interested in becoming the party’s flagbearer—its top candidate for president. The engagements are part of efforts to ensure the party stays united and organised after losing power to the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) in the 2018 and 2023 national elections. Those defeats have added pressure on APC leaders and supporters to find strong leadership and a clear plan to return to governance.
The flagbearer race is already drawing wide interest, with several known figures preparing to compete:
Chief Samuel Sam-Sumana, a former Vice President, has had his APC membership reinstated, making him eligible to contest for the flagbearer slot. His reinstatement follows a Political Parties Regulation Commission ruling that confirmed his party membership dates.
Alhaji Mohamed Omodu “Jagaban” Kamara, a businessman and party member, has been cleared by the APC National Executive to contest the flagbearer position after his membership status was verified.
Ady Macauley, a prominent APC politician, officially declared his interest and launched a political movement, gaining attention from many within the party.
Dr. Ibrahim Bangura, a long-standing party member with deep roots in APC student politics, has also announced his bid, calling for unity and disciplined leadership.
In addition to official aspirants who have declared, others are widely expected to join the contest in the coming months, as political interest in APC’s leadership grows.
The APC has also introduced new nomination fees for internal elections, including a fee for flagbearer aspirants, reflecting the seriousness with which the party is approaching the selection process.
APC supporters say the race for the flagbearer is more than a contest for a title. Despite having lost two national election campaigns to the SLPP, members and interested candidates within the party feel an extreme sense of haste to inject new leadership into the party that can connect with the citizens and offer an effective alternative to the existing regime in power.
Read Also: APC Clears Jagaban to Contest Flagbearer Position, Ending Eligibility Debate
Engagement with the national leadership is also considered an affirmative move in the quest to unite the party, as the aspirants come together under one roofing to air plans and ideas, as opposed to drifting apart prior to the presidential nomination and delegate vote process. With the leadership election in the APC approaching, attention is also bound to focus on how these persons position themselves in their party and in Sierra Leone, as well as on how they handle the challenges of uniting their supporters, among others.
