It is no longer safe to assume that the Sierra Leone People’s Party flag bearer race will naturally tilt toward the First Lady or the sitting Vice President. A new national survey suggests that the grassroots mood within the ruling party is pointing elsewhere, and the signal is growing clearer by the day.
According to findings released by the Institute for Governance Reform (IGR), former United Nations official Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella has emerged as the most favored and most electable figure among SLPP supporters, overtaking both First Lady Fatima Bio and Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh in key measures that matter ahead of a flag bearer contest.
This survey, done mid-December 2025, reveals Yumkella with a 48 percent likeability index and electability of 38 percent among declared supporters of SLPP. In this case, the First Lady scored 47 percent in likeability, with a lower electability of 32 percent.Vice President Juldeh Jalloh trailed further, polling 29 percent likeability and 23 percent electability.
What stands out is not just the numbers, but what they suggest about the party’s internal mood. Despite her high visibility and influence, the First Lady is not consolidating a clear lead. Likewise, the Vice President’s position in government does not appear to be translating into strong grassroots momentum.
Instead, Yumkella’s appeal seems rooted in qualities the survey shows party supporters value most. Among SLPP respondents, being highly educated, possessing strong leadership experience, and having international exposure ranked far above considerations such as regional origin, age, or gender. These are areas where Yumkella’s profile resonates strongly, given his long career in global institutions and prior national leadership roles.
Chief Minister Dr.David Moinina Sengeh also performed competitively, polling 38 percent likeability and 33 percent electability, placing him ahead of the Vice President and within striking distance of the First Lady. His showing further reinforces the picture of a fragmented race where institutional power alone does not guarantee dominance.The survey also reveals growing resistance within the party to dynastic succession.A significant 52 percent of respondents believe close relatives of a sitting president, including a spouse, should not contest the presidency immediately after that president’s term ends. Additionally, 87 percent of respondents support the idea that aspirants must have at least five years of party membership before seeking the flag bearer position or a top national executive role.
These sentiments complicate the path for certain high-profile figures while quietly strengthening the case for candidates seen as seasoned party actors with broad national and international credibility.
While SLPP leadership has noted that the poll sampled the general population rather than an official delegate list, researchers argue that the findings remain relevant. Nearly three-quarters of respondents identified themselves as party members or supporters, reflecting the wider base that shapes opinion long before delegates gather in a convention hall.
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With the party yet to formally open nominations, the race remains fluid. Still, one conclusion is hard to ignore. The emerging favorite is neither the First Lady nor the Vice President. For now, the numbers point toward Kandeh Yumkella as the figure commanding the widest confidence among the SLPP grassroots, and that reality is likely to shape the calculations of every serious contender as the contest draws closer.
