In an unprecedented move, a coalition of grassroots members from Sierra Leone’s All People’s Congress (APC) Party has called for the immediate resignation of the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Minkailu Mansaray.
The call follows growing criticism of his leadership since his election in 2023.
The coalition’s open letter, addressed to both Mansaray and the party’s deputy chairman, Alhaji Osman Foday Yansaneh, accuses Mansaray of employing divisive tactics, making opaque decisions, and neglecting key issues facing the party.
The statement, signed by members claiming to represent a wide base of APC supporters, describes the party as “disunited” and “riddled with internal impasses,” a situation the group believes has worsened since the 2023 general elections.
Despite APC’s presidential candidate winning 57.15% of the vote—surpassing the constitutional threshold of 55%—party members argue that the leadership failed to capitalize on opportunities to push for “electoral justice.” Instead, Mansaray is accused of focusing on less important matters, deepening dissatisfaction and disillusionment within the party.
The letter also criticizes the leadership for what it deems “cowardice” in responding to police brutality and harassment directed at APC supporters. The coalition claims that the party’s top leadership has been inactive in addressing these issues, further alienating the grassroots base. “The APC, once a beacon of hope for so many, is now becoming an irrelevant opposition party under your watch,” the letter charges, citing the party’s 2022 constitution, which stresses leadership responsibility for maintaining unity, transparency, and prioritizing the public good.
The Chairman’s recent call for the resignation of the APC’s National Leader and presidential candidate has also been condemned by party members as a “leadership blunder” that only served to deepen internal divisions. According to the letter, this move disregarded the collective will of APC supporters and severely damaged party morale, leaving the party at a “dangerous crossroads.”
The statement concludes with a call for Mansaray’s resignation, urging the party to elect a “visionary leader” who can restore trust, rejuvenate grassroots support, and steer the APC back to its founding principles. This demand marks a critical juncture for the APC as it seeks to redefine its leadership and future in Sierra Leone’s political arena.
