By Sallieu S. Kanu
Makeni, Sierra Leone – In a passionate address at the All Peoples Congress (APC) Internal Elections Management Committee (IEMC) retreat in Makeni, National Secretary General Lansana Dumbuya Esq. energized party loyalists with a bold declaration of preparedness, calling for unity, discipline, and political resolve ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Speaking to party delegates, Dumbuya asserted that “elections are do-or-die,” emphasizing that some aspiring candidates had yet to verify their membership status—an essential constitutional prerequisite for participation in internal elections. He called on all contenders to complete registration and verification as a matter of urgency.
In a stirring appeal, he stated, “We are not ready for cowards,” urging those without conviction or readiness to lead to step aside for committed members willing to serve with heart and clarity of purpose.
Dumbuya urged APC members to move beyond internal friction and instead channel their strength against the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP). “We must challenge our political opponents, not ourselves,” he said, stressing the importance of focus and collaboration.
Addressing misconduct, he warned firmly against electoral malpractice, intimidation, and rigging, pledging that any such actions would be met with strong resistance. He also called on APC Members of Parliament to oppose unjust legislation and cautioned constituency chairmen to be prudent when endorsing parliamentary candidates.
On national issues, Dumbuya encouraged the party’s flagbearer to remain vocal on critical matters, including the upcoming Population and Housing Census and contentious divisions within Freetown.
Concluding his address, he reaffirmed the APC’s readiness to govern and promised to pursue all lawful measures—including peaceful demonstrations—to ensure that “justice and democracy prevail.”