Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. The opposition All Peoples Congress (APC) has issued a strong condemnation of statements made by the newly elected chairman of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), Jimmy Batilo Songa, calling them a “serious affront to democratic principles.”
In a press release dated October 20, 2025, the APC expressed alarm over a recorded comment from Songa’s acceptance ceremony in which he called upon “the President, the Army, Soldiers, and Marshals to stop the APC in 2028.”
The APC described the remark as more than typical political rhetoric, labeling it a “troubling call for the involvement of state security forces in partisan political affairs.” The party stated that such a move directly contradicts the constitutional mandate for security institutions to remain professional and impartial.
The opposition party framed the statement as a potential threat to the democratic process, suggesting it could be interpreted as a call “to undermine the sovereign will of the people” and prevent the APC from winning the 2028 election through democratic means.
The APC’s statement highlighted several key concerns, arguing that Songa’s words undermine the neutrality of security services, erode public confidence in elections, and signal a “worrying mindset” that could lead to the misuse of state power.
In response, the APC is calling for three specific actions:
A public reassurance from President Julius Maada Bio that state institutions will remain neutral and will not be used for political suppression.
A formal repudiation of the remarks by the SLPP leadership.
Continued vigilance from international partners, including ECOWAS, the African Union, and the United Nations, regarding Sierra Leone’s political climate.
The press release concluded with a call for supporters to remain calm and law-abiding while being ready to “defend the integrity of our democracy through peaceful, lawful, and constitutional means.”
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