Prominent elder statesman of the All People’s Congress, Ibrahim Sorie, has urged the leadership of the opposition party to urgently embrace reconciliation, constitutional discipline, and broader consultations with senior stakeholders as preparations gradually intensify ahead of Sierra Leone’s 2028 elections.
Sorie, a longtime loyalist of the APC and one of the party’s most experienced political figures, warned that failure to unite the party and learn from previous political miscalculations could further weaken the APC’s chances of reclaiming power in the next general election.
The former parliamentarian, who served for decades in various political capacities including as a Member of Parliament, Deputy Minister, Minister, and APC District Chairman for Kambia, reflected on some of the internal crises that contributed to the party’s decline after the 2018 elections.
According to him, certain controversial decisions made within the APC leadership created deep divisions that eventually damaged the party’s internal stability and electoral strength.
He particularly referenced the removal of the former Vice President and disagreements surrounding the emergence of the party’s 2018 presidential flagbearer, insisting that such actions created avoidable tensions that gave political opponents room to capitalise on APC’s internal struggles.
“We made serious mistakes as a party and we must be honest enough to admit them,” Sorie stated, stressing that the APC leadership must stop sidelining senior members who possess decades of political experience and institutional knowledge.
The APC elder maintained that one of the major problems confronting the party today is the gradual abandonment of consultation and respect for party structures, noting that younger executives and aspirants must understand the importance of guidance from senior politicians who helped build and sustain the APC over the years.
He emphasised that political leadership should not be driven solely by ambition, influence, or financial power, but by experience, discipline, and respect for democratic processes within the party.
Sorie further cautioned against the growing trend of political exclusion and internal hostility, warning that alienating respected party figures could deepen divisions ahead of the highly anticipated 2028 political contest.
He also called for strict adherence to the APC constitution, particularly regarding leadership tenure and internal democratic principles, arguing that disregard for constitutional provisions weakens party credibility and public trust.
According to him, the APC cannot demand accountability and constitutional order nationally while failing to uphold the same values internally.
The veteran politician also criticised the recent parliamentary boycott involving APC lawmakers, describing the move as politically harmful and strategically counterproductive for an opposition party seeking to maintain national relevance.
He argued that abandoning parliamentary participation creates opportunities for the ruling government to push through decisions without meaningful opposition scrutiny or engagement.
“Parliament continues with or without the opposition present,” he noted, adding that constructive participation and strategic resistance are more effective than complete withdrawal from legislative processes.
Speaking on the race for the APC’s future leadership, Ibrahim Sorie openly threw his support behind Ibrahim Bangura as a credible figure capable of leading the party into the 2028 elections.
He described Bangura as a respected and experienced individual with the intellectual depth, administrative exposure, and international connections required to reposition the APC and strengthen its national appeal.
According to Sorie, the party must prioritise competence, integrity, and leadership capacity over popularity or political noise when selecting its future presidential candidate.
He also urged the APC leadership to convene a broad-based reconciliation and consultation meeting involving former Vice Presidents, senior elders, former executives, and all aspirants interested in contesting for the party’s flagbearer position.
Sorie insisted that meaningful dialogue among stakeholders remains the only sustainable path toward rebuilding trust, restoring unity, and preventing further fragmentation within the party.
He added that while every aspirant has the constitutional right to contest for leadership, those seeking to lead the APC must demonstrate political maturity, loyalty to party structures, and a clear understanding of governance and national leadership.
The APC elder concluded by warning that the road to 2028 would require discipline, sacrifice, unity, and strategic coordination, stressing that the party must avoid repeating the mistakes that previously weakened its position on the national political stage.