By Mabinty M. Kamara
As delegates of the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) endorsed President Julius Maada Bio to hoist the party’s flag in the 2023 General Elections, the president has assured party supporters of victory again against their arch-rivals, the main opposition All Peoples Congress (APC) party.
The endorsement came on the first day of the SLPP convention which took place in Bo from 29th and 30th of December 2021.
“When I lead the SLPP, I lead for victory! I have beaten the APC, and I will beat them again,” he assured as the roaring party supporters cheered him on.
Speaking to Politico, Bockarie Bindie Hindowa SLPP Chairman for Constituency 083, Bo district said he was delighted to be a delegate “in this election that will put the team together to win the 2023 elections”.
He said, “I am pleased to inform you that we the delegates by acclamation endorsed his excellency the president after he was nominated to become our flag bearer for the next general elections…All of us who are delegates to this convention want him to continue to provide leadership and to win the next elections”. Hindowa described the convention as “the most transparent and peaceful democratic convention in the history of our party”. He added that they were pleased with the process and that the outcome was accepted by all.
1067 delegates were to vote in the elections conducted with each constituency represented by four delegates from across all sixteen districts of the country as well as the diaspora members of the party.
In 2018, President Julius Maada contested the national elections alongside 16 other political party leaders and won with 51.8% in a run-off defeating the then ruling party’s candidate Dr. Samura Mathew Wilson Kamara.
Bio’s tenure has been characterized by his quest to ensure radical inclusion in education and the fight against corruption. He also continues to work in ensuring increased access to electricity supply across the country. The president recently commissioned one of the power stations of the Transco CLSG interconnection lines of the West Africa Power Pool Project which is aimed at providing sustainable energy supply to most parts of the country.
The economy however remains a challenge with inflationary trends hitting basic commodities including foodstuff.
Speaking to Politico Patrick Hinga Kanneh, a university student who was at the convention said the choice made by the party to have President Bio lead them to the poll is the discretion of the party but he argued that the process was “rushed”. “I don’t think this was the right time and place for the endorsement, that is the first thing, and the second thing is that people are still complaining about the economy here and especially in Freetown. Everyday prices are going up and that is something we should fear”.
A trader at the Bo mini stadium was optimistic about the SLPP winning the 2023 elections. She said, “I have full confidence that Bio is the right person for the job. He has done so much in just a few years and I believe he can do more. For now, he is the best in the party to be the flag bearer”.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online
