Sierra Leone’s main opposition party, the All Peoples ongress (APC) has formally requested their former leader and presidential candidate, Samura Kamara to vacate office following constitutional provision.
The party made this call in a letter dated November 1, 2024, and signed by National Secretary General, Lansana Dumbuya Esq.
The letter cited Section 47(a)(iv) of the APC Constitution, which mandates that Dr. Kamara’s role should have ended six months after the 2023 election results.
The letter also referenced an agreement from a December 2023 meeting, during which Dr. Kamara accepted this condition, pending the completion of the Tripartite Committee’s report.
With the report now submitted, the APC leadership has requested that Dr. Kamara return the office keys within a week. The letter acknowledged Dr. Kamara’s contributions and encouraged his continued involvement in the party’s future activities.
Read below for full details 👇
1 November 2024
Dr. Samura Mathew Wilson Kamara Former National Leader and Presidential Candidate 2018/2023
Dear Dr. Kamara,
SUBJECT: RESPONSE TO YOUR LETTER DATED 28TH OCTOBER 2024, ON DISCUSSING THE PARTY’S CURRENT TRAJECTORY AND TRANSITION
Thank you for your response dated 28th October 2024, and for your willingness to engage in open discussions with the leadership of the party. We acknowledge the contents of your letter, which will be forwarded to the National Advisory Committee for its consideration.
In the interim, we would like to again draw your attention to Section 47 (a) (iv) of the APC Constitution 2022, which states:
“Where the National Leader fails to be elected President of Sierra Leone, he shall relinquish the position of National Leader SIX MONTHS after the declaration of election results by the National Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone, notwithstanding any petition filed in the Supreme Court or pursuant to any law; and such position shall remain vacant until another election for the Party’s presidential candidate is conducted pursuant to this Constitution.”
As you may recall, on 27th December 2023, exactly six months following the declaration of the election result, a meeting was held between yourself, your running mate, the National Chairman, his deputy, and myself. In that meeting, we candidly discussed this constitutional provision and your commitment to adhering to it. You accepted without hesitation that your role as flag bearer and leader of the party would cease. It was then unanimously agreed that you would continue to lead matters relating to the Tripartite Committee, until its Report was completed and submitted, while the roles of National Leader and Deputy National Leader would cease by operation of law.
In line with this understanding, in your 2024 New Year’s message released on 1st January 2024, you stated, “as a law-abiding citizen, I strongly respect our party’s constitution, and I have no intention to breach any part of it….” We are grateful for that commitment, which provided clarity on the matter.
Out of respect for your role, in leading the Tripartite Committee, it was agreed that you would continue to occupy the office space assigned to the National Leader of the Party, until the presentation of the Tripartite Committee’s Report.
Now that the Tripartite Committee’s Report has been submitted, and implementation efforts are advancing in alignment with the Agreement for National Unity, we respectfully request that you return the keys to the National Leader’s office to the undersigned within a week of receiving this letter. Should you have any personal items in the office, we would be pleased to coordinate their collection at a convenient time for you.
I wish to extend our appreciation for your dedicated service and commitment to the party. Your role during a significant period in our journey has not gone unnoticed, and your efforts are a valued part of our shared history. We look forward to your continued involvement in the APC, following the example of other former leaders who have contributed in varied and meaningful ways.
Thank you again for your dedication to the APC and for your ongoing support.
Respectfully
Lansana Dumbuya
National Secretary General All Peoples Congress Party (APC)
