Sierra Leone’s main opposition party, the All People’s Congress (APC), is grappling with significant internal turmoil, marked by leadership disputes, allegations of betrayal, and public calls for unity ahead of the 2028 general elections.

Recent developments have seen the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Dr. Samura Matthew Wilson Kamara, become the subject of both official party directives and swirling speculation.

The APC has officially declared that Dr. Samura Kamara is no longer the leader of the party. Sidi Yayah Tunis, the APC’s National Publicity Secretary, made the announcement on AYV Television in 2024, citing Section 47 of the APC Constitution.

This declaration was further solidified by a letter from the party’s Secretary General, Lansana Dumbuya, addressed to Dr. Kamara on November 1, 2024. The letter, citing Section 47 (a) (iv) of the new APC Constitution, requested Dr. Kamara to vacate the National Leader’s office at the party’s headquarters in Freetown.

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The cited section stipulates that a National Leader who fails to be elected President of Sierra Leone must relinquish the position six months after the declaration of election results, regardless of any ongoing legal petitions. The party also clarified that Dr. Kamara’s role in the Tripartite Committee, which he led, did not signify his continued leadership of the party.

Adding to the internal complexities, a viral post on Facebook falsely alleged that Dr. Samura Kamara had officially endorsed Sheikh Alhaji Mohamed Omodu Kamara, popularly known as “Jagaban,” as a leading figure for the APC flagbearer position in 2028. The post, widely shared on social media, sparked considerable debate among APC supporters.

However, DUBAWA, an investigative media outlet, debunked the claim after contacting Alhaji Mansaray, a close associate and nephew of Dr. Samura Kamara. Mansaray categorically stated, “This is a false and unfounded claim. Dr. Samura M. W. Kamara has not backed any aspirant. Doc is not focused on elections right now but on his fight for electoral justice.” This clarification confirms that Dr. Kamara’s current focus remains on seeking redress for the controversial June 2023 elections.

A leaked phone conversation, purportedly involving former President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, has exposed deeper fissures within the APC. The audio suggests that Dr. Samura Kamara engaged in confidential talks with President Julius Maada Bio without consulting key party stakeholders. Furthermore, the conversation alludes to Dr. Kamara allegedly using proxies to target party members while failing to condemn negative remarks made by his personal bloggers about the APC leadership.

Koroma reportedly questioned Kamara about these bloggers, stating that despite Kamara’s denials of involvement, he never formally condemned their actions.

Amidst the internal turmoil, Honorable Ibrahim Ben Kargbo has publicly urged Dr. Samura Kamara to engage with the APC as the party prepares for the 2028 elections. Speaking on AYV TV, Kargbo emphasized the critical need for collaboration, stating, “Dr. Samura Kamara must see reason; we must work towards winning the coming elections.”

Kargbo highlighted the importance of interpreting the party constitution regarding Dr. Kamara’s eligibility to contest, noting that “the two teams worked under the old constitution; the new constitution is unknown.” He also expressed concern about the potential number of candidates, given that Dr. Kamara has contested twice previously.

“The bottom line is we, the leaders, want a discussion with Dr. Samura Kamara. We need to know the way forward and how we can resolve these issues as a party,” Hon Kargbo asserted.

Despite acknowledging the challenges, Kargbo stressed the importance of Dr. Kamara’s participation, insisting that “a future without Samura Kamara will not look good for the APC,” and reiterating his personal desire to see Dr. Kamara become president.