Freetown, 23rd October, 2025- The Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) has issued a strong rebuttal to claims made by the opposition All People’s Congress (APC), following a press release dated October 20 that accused 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 dismissed the APC’s allegations as “groundless” and “deliberately misleading,” asserting that the opposition’s narrative was riddled with distortions aimed at inciting public fear and sowing division.
At the heart of the controversy are remarks made by SLPP National Chairman Jimmy Batilo Songa during the party’s recent executive handover ceremony. The APC alleged that Chairman Songa called on the President, the military, and party marshals to “stop the APC in 2028” a claim the SLPP categorically denies.
According to the SLPP, Chairman Songa’s speech was a motivational call to party members and affiliates, described as the “Political Army” to mobilize peacefully and democratically in preparation for future elections. The term, the party clarified, referred to SLPP leadership, grassroots supporters, marshals, bloggers, and allied groups, not state security forces.
“Chairman Songa’s remarks were political, democratic, and lawful,” the statement read. “They were a rallying call to legitimate party activism, not a threat to national institutions or democratic values.”
The SLPP accused the APC of deliberately misrepresenting the Chairman’s words to fabricate a narrative of political intimidation. “It takes either a stretch of imagination or deliberate mischief to twist a democratic call to action into a threat,” the party said.
The ruling party further criticized the APC’s history of “negative political propaganda,” alleging that the opposition has consistently weaponized misinformation to distract from its own internal divisions and leadership challenges.
“This is a new species of SLPP leadership,” the statement declared. “We refuse to be drawn into the APC’s toxic politics of distortion.”
Reaffirming its commitment to peace, inclusivity, and democratic governance, the SLPP emphasized its belief in “the power of ideas, not intimidation; of ballots, not bullets.” The party called on citizens, the media, and the international community to reject what it described as the APC’s “dangerous falsehoods and betrayal.”
Chairman Songa’s message, the SLPP insisted, was one of unity and lawful political participation, inspiring hope among supporters who remain committed to the progress achieved 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.”
