Yansanneh, Others Urged To Step Aside

Growing calls for peace, unity and internal reconciliation within the All People’s Congress (APC) have triggered renewed demands for the party’s current executive to step aside and pave the way for a fresh leadership structure.

At the centre of the growing debate is the argument that the mandate of the current APC executive has expired and that, in the interest of the party’s future, senior officials—including Chairman Mr. Alfred Peter Conteh Yansaneh and other members of the executive—should make way for a new team capable of bringing together the party’s increasingly divided stakeholders.

The calls come at a sensitive period for the APC, as the party continues to grapple with internal disagreements, competing interests and disputes over its leadership, lower-level elections, delegates and preparations for the next general elections.

According to party stakeholders advocating for a change in leadership, the APC cannot effectively move forward while questions surrounding the legitimacy, tenure and mandate of its current executive remain unresolved.

They argue that stepping aside should not necessarily be interpreted as an admission of failure, but rather as a political sacrifice aimed at creating an environment for genuine dialogue, reconciliation and the rebuilding of trust among party members.

A Party at a Crossroads  

The APC remains one of Sierra Leone’s major political parties, with a long history and a substantial support base across the country. However, recent internal developments have exposed deep disagreements among sections of the party.

Different groups within the APC have increasingly expressed competing views about the direction of the party, the conduct of internal elections and the leadership arrangements that should guide the organisation into the future.

For some stakeholders, the solution lies in allowing the existing executive to voluntarily step aside and creating space for a transitional or newly elected leadership that enjoys broad acceptance.

They believe such a move could reduce tensions and provide an opportunity for various factions and interest groups to sit around the same table and negotiate a peaceful way forward.

“Let The Party Come First”

Those calling for the executive to leave office say the APC should place the interests of the party above individual positions and personal ambitions.

They contend that political parties survive not because of individual office holders, but because of their institutions, structures and commitment to democratic principles.

In their view, no individual should be bigger than the APC, and no leadership position should become a source of prolonged internal conflict.

The stakeholders are therefore urging the current executive to consider a peaceful transition rather than allowing disagreements over tenure and leadership to continue generating divisions.

Yansaneh under Pressure 

Chairman Yansaneh has increasingly become a central figure in the debate surrounding the future of the APC leadership.

While supporters of the current leadership may argue that the executive has responsibilities that must be completed, critics maintain that the party needs a new beginning.

They believe that the departure of the current executive could help lower the temperature within the party and create the conditions for a credible process to select new leaders.

For these stakeholders, the issue is bigger than one individual. They say the APC needs an inclusive leadership arrangement that can accommodate different political interests and rebuild confidence among members at national, regional, district and constituency levels.

Unity before 2028 Elections  

With the political landscape already beginning to take shape ahead of the next major electoral contest, party stakeholders are warning that prolonged internal disputes could weaken the APC if not addressed.

They argue that a party preparing to challenge for national political power must first demonstrate its ability to manage disagreements within its own house.

The call for the executive to step aside is therefore being presented by its proponents as part of a broader campaign for reconciliation.

They want the party to organise a credible and transparent process through which a new leadership can emerge with a clear mandate from the membership.

Calls for Constructive Dialogue 

Rather than allowing disagreements to degenerate into further court cases, accusations and counter-accusations, stakeholders are calling for dialogue among all sides.

They are urging senior party figures, former leaders, elected representatives, grassroots supporters, constituency executives and other influential stakeholders to put aside personal differences and work toward a common solution.

According to them, the APC cannot afford a situation in which internal disputes become more damaging than its political competition with rival parties.

They maintain that reconciliation should not be delayed, particularly at a time when the party needs to consolidate its grassroots structures and prepare for future elections.

A New Chapter for APC  

The growing demand for the current executive to step aside could become one of the most important internal political questions facing the APC.

If handled peacefully and constructively, stakeholders believe it could open the door to a new chapter—one characterised by reconciliation, broader participation and renewed confidence in the party’s internal democratic processes.

But if the disagreement continues without a mutually acceptable solution, there are concerns that divisions could deepen and further complicate the party’s preparations for the future.

The ultimate responsibility, stakeholders say, rests with the APC leadership and its wider membership.

For them, the message is simple: the APC must come first.

They are therefore calling on Chairman Yansaneh and other members of the current executive to consider stepping aside in the larger interest of peace, unity and the long-term survival of the party.

As the battle for the future of the APC intensifies, the big question now is whether the current leadership will listen to the growing calls for a transition—or whether the party will continue along the path of internal confrontation.