APC, SLPP Draw Daggers
The main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) has strongly reacted to what it describes as deliberate attempts by the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) to drag the nation back into a one-party system; warning that such a development would undermine the country’s hard-earned democracy and peace.
According to senior APC officials, recent political and governance trends under the current administration are reminiscent of the pre-war era when political intolerance, suppression of dissenting voices, and the manipulation of state institutions fuelled instability.
The APC party claims there is a growing pattern of intimidation against APC opposition members; unfair targeting of critics, and the shrinking of democratic spaces – particularly within local governance and the media.
Speaking during a weekend press briefing, an APC spokesperson accused the SLPP government of systematically weakening democratic checks and balances through appointments of loyalists in key institutions, political victimization of opposition figures, and the weaponization of state resources to silence alternative opinions.
“The APC will not sit idly by and watch Sierra Leone slide back into a one-party dictatorship,” the spokesperson emphasized, calling on the international community, civil society organizations, democratic and international partners to closely monitor the situation and stand with the people of Sierra Leone in defending democratic values.
Meanwhile, supporters of the SLPP have dismissed the APC’s accusations as baseless and politically motivated. They argue that the government of President Julius Maada Bio remains committed to democracy, transparency, and accountability, pointing to ongoing governance reforms, freedom of expression, and open political engagement as proof.
Observers say the growing political friction between the APC and SLPP reflects deep-rooted mistrust between the two dominant parties, which continues to shape Sierra Leone’s political landscape.
Analysts warn that unless both parties prioritize dialogue, maintain respect for the rule of law, and hold on to national cohesion, the country risks renewed political instability that could derail its progress.
As the debate over alleged “one-party state” tendencies continues to unfold, many Sierra Leoneans are calling for restraint, maturity, and leadership from both sides—urging politicians to place the nation’s peace and democratic gains above partisan interests.
