The Acting Chairman of Sierra Leone’s main opposition party, the All People’s Congress (APC), has called on the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) to select a presidential candidate the APC can defeat in the country’s next general election in 2028.
Ambassador Osman Foday Yansaneh made the remarks during the SLPP’s 4th National Delegates Conference, held at the Bintumani Conference Centre in Freetown from 30–31 July.
Representing the APC, Yansaneh extended greetings on behalf of his party and its chairman, Minkailu Mansaray, who was not present. In his address, he encouraged the SLPP to uphold democratic values and foster mutual respect between political parties.
“We are committed to consolidating the democratic gains we have achieved together over the years,” he said. “I hope and pray that you have a successful convention—and provide us with a candidate we can defeat in 2028.”
The comments, while couched in a message of goodwill, were viewed by some political analysts as a calculated expression of the APC’s electoral ambitions.
Yansaneh also stressed the need for unity and responsible political leadership, adding: “We should all be our brothers’ keepers.”
The SLPP conference, which brought together delegates from across the country, focused on electing a new national executive ahead of the 2028 polls. The event marks a key moment in the party’s internal preparations, as Sierra Leone begins to shift its political focus toward the next presidential race.
Observers say Yansaneh’s attendance and tone reflect both the deepening competition between the two dominant parties and their shared commitment to democratic norms.
