MAKENI – A group of former ministers from the All People’s Congress (APC) paid a courtesy visit to former President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma at his residence in Makeni over the weekend.
The meeting centred on strengthening party unity, discussing pressing national issues, and reflecting on past governance experiences as the APC positions itself for upcoming political engagements, including preparations toward the 2028 elections.
Makeni, the capital of Bombali District and Koroma’s ancestral hometown, remains a key political stronghold of the APC in the Northern Province.
The visit underscores ongoing efforts within the party to consolidate support around the former leader, who continues to wield significant influence among supporters despite stepping back from active day-to-day leadership.
This engagement comes shortly after Koroma’s return to Sierra Leone in early September 2026. He had spent more than two years in Nigeria following treason charges linked to the November 2023 events, which the government later discontinued. His homecoming, facilitated through regional diplomatic efforts involving ECOWAS and Nigeria, was widely viewed as a step toward national reconciliation and political stability.
Koroma, who served as President from 2007 to 2018, led the APC through two successive electoral victories. Former cabinet members who served under his administration have maintained close ties with the party, and such visits are seen by observers as important for bridging generational and factional gaps within the opposition.
Party sources indicate that discussions during the Makeni meeting touched on the need for internal cohesion, lessons from previous periods in government, and the broader challenges facing Sierra Leone, including economic recovery and democratic consolidation. The APC has emphasised unity as it navigates the political landscape ahead of the next general elections.
Koroma’s return to his Makeni base has already drawn attention from party structures and supporters across the north.
