…Accuses APC and SLPP of Self-interest

Reverend James Lahai of the National Elections Watch (NEW) has sharply criticized the much-talked-about tripartite arrangements, describing them as a self-serving political deal designed to benefit only the SLPP and APC, while sidelining the broader interests of the Sierra Leonean people. Speaking on Liberty TV ‘Breakfast Show’, Rev. Lahai expressed deep concern that the arrangement undermines inclusivity, transparency, and genuine democratic reform.

According to him, the process reflects an elite consensus driven by political survival rather than national interest. He argued that while the two dominant parties continue to negotiate power-sharing frameworks and electoral compromises behind closed doors, ordinary citizens, civil society groups, and smaller political stakeholders are left without a meaningful voice.

Rev. Lahai warned that such arrangements risk eroding public trust in the electoral process and democratic institutions. “When decisions that affect the future of our democracy are reduced to deals between two political giants, the people become spectators in their own country,” he stated. He emphasized that true electoral reform must be people-centered, transparent, and inclusive, rather than negotiated arrangements that merely recycle power among the same political actors.

The National Elections Watch, he noted, remains committed to advocating for free, fair, and credible elections, and will continue to speak out against any process that compromises democratic accountability. Rev. Lahai called on citizens, civil society organizations, and the international community to critically examine the tripartite framework and demand reforms that genuinely reflect the will and aspirations of the people of Sierra Leone.