By Hassan Osman Kargbo
The Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) has strongly refuted allegations made by the opposition All People’s Congress (APC), describing them as baseless and an attempt to mislead the public. The response follows a press release issued by the APC on October 20, accusing the ruling party of undermining democratic governance and politicizing state institutions.
In a statement signed by SLPP National Secretary General Hon. Paran Umar Tarawally, the party labeled the APC’s claims as “groundless” and “deliberately misleading.” The SLPP said the opposition’s narrative was filled with distortions intended to incite fear and create division among Sierra Leoneans.
The dispute centres on comments made by SLPP National Chairman Jimmy Batilo Songa during a recent executive handover ceremony. The APC alleged that Chairman Songa urged the President, the military, and party marshals to “stop the APC in 2028,” a claim the SLPP firmly denied.
According to the ruling party, Songa’s remarks were motivational, aimed at energizing SLPP members and supporters to prepare for future elections through democratic means. The statement explained that the phrase “Political Army,” used by Songa, referred to party leaders, grassroots supporters, marshals, bloggers, and allied groups, not to members of the military or state security institutions.
“Chairman Songa’s remarks were political, democratic, and lawful,” the SLPP said. “They were a rallying call to legitimate party activism, not a threat to national institutions or democratic values.”
The SLPP accused the APC of intentionally misrepresenting the Chairman’s words to fabricate a story of political intimidation. “It takes either a stretch of imagination or deliberate mischief to twist a democratic call to action into a threat,” the statement added.
The ruling party also criticized what it called the APC’s “history of negative political propaganda,” alleging that the opposition has repeatedly used misinformation to distract the public from its internal divisions and leadership challenges.
“This is a new species of SLPP leadership,” the statement continued. “We refuse to be drawn into the APC’s toxic politics of distortion.”
Reaffirming its commitment to peace, unity, and democratic principles, the SLPP stressed that it believes in “the power of ideas, not intimidation; of ballots, not bullets.” The party urged citizens, the media, and the international community to reject what it described as the APC’s “dangerous falsehoods and betrayal.”
The statement further noted that Chairman Songa’s message was one of unity and lawful political participation, inspiring hope among SLPP supporters who remain dedicated to sustaining the progress made under President Julius Maada Bio’s administration.
“The SLPP ‘Political Army’ stands for unity, democracy, and national progress,” the statement concluded. “We will continue to lead with integrity, inclusivity, and an unshakeable belief in democracy.”
The exchange between the two main political parties comes at a time when the government is emphasizing national cohesion and institutional reforms. The SLPP’s rebuttal appears aimed at reinforcing its image as a party committed to democratic engagement while discrediting what it views as attempts by the APC to destabilize the political atmosphere ahead of the 2028 general elections.
