By Sulaiman Aruna Sesay
The All People’s Congress (APC) party, one of the prominent political parties in Sierra Leone, is currently facing a dilemma as the trust for their presidential candidate the next elections after huge disappointment in 2023, Dr Samura Mathew Wilson Kamara, continues to wane.There is a growing sentiment among members of the party that the APC needs a new presidential candidate if they want to stand any chance of winning in the next election.
Dr Kamara, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Corporation, the Ministry of Finance AND Governor of the Central Bank of Sierra Leone respectively under the last Ernest Bai Koroma APC government, was selected as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2018 polls and in 2023 at a national convention held in Makeni for the June 24 election. However, he lost to the current President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio twice. Since then, there has been a decline in the trust that the APC faithful has in Dr Kamara’s leadership abilities.
One of the primary reasons for the erosion of trust in Dr Kamara is his handling of the party’s affairs after the loss. Some members of the party claim that Dr Kamara has failed to galvanize the party and offer a clear direction towards improving the APC’s electoral chances. That being said, the Tripartite outcome was a clearly manifestation of how incompetence he was/is. The lack of a clear strategy has widened the trust gap between Dr Kamara and the party members.
Dr Kamara’s perceived lack of charisma and leadership style has also played a significant role in the diminishing trust for him. Critics of Dr Kamara claim that he does not possess the charm or communication skills required to inspire and mobilize the APC’s base around his candidacy. Thus, leading to a sense of apathy among the party faithful.
Betrayal allegations hovering around Dr Kamara’s name have also contributed to the erosion of trust towards him. With the perception of the APC’s bad image in the eyes of many Sierra Leoneans, the party leadership has become increasingly sensitive to any accusations of betrayal. Dr Kamara’s alleged involvement in corruption cases during his time in government has not helped his case and further damaged his credibility within the party.
Given the political terrain in Sierra Leone, the APC cannot afford to have a presidential candidate that is not trusted by its members. The party must find a way to reconcile with its membership and offer a clear, compelling vision to inspire the faithful towards the 2028 elections. However, choosing a new candidate might logically have consequences. Some may say APC might lose members of goodwill if they settle on a new face. Still, the party’s current predicament is a call to actions, and its leadership must recognize the need for change, both in leadership style and strategy.
While the APC’s internal squabble is becoming increasingly visible, the party must recognize the urgency in improving the trust between its leadership and membership. The APC must also choose a presidential candidate that enjoys the confidence of its party members. Failure to do this risks another loss in the next elections, which would be disastrous for the party, thereby paving the way for a possible deviation from the opposition.
