Former APC ministers call for interim leadership
By Mahmood Fofana
The Former APC Ministers Association (FORMINA) has called for an immediate transition within the All People’s Congress (APC), warning that continued uncertainty over the tenure of the party’s National Executive could deepen internal divisions and weaken the party’s organisational readiness.
In a position statement issued in Freetown on August 27, 2026, FORMINA said the prescribed tenure of the APC National Executive has expired and expressed concern over what it described as the failure to establish an appropriate transitional arrangement.
The association said the issue should be approached primarily as a question of constitutional governance rather than an individual political contest, arguing that the APC’s internal leadership must operate within the limits established by the party’s constitution and Sierra Leone’s political-party regulatory framework.
FORMINA is therefore proposing the establishment of what it describes as a lawful, neutral and time-bound interim administration to oversee the completion of outstanding party processes and prepare the ground for a National Delegates’ Conference.
According to the former ministers, the principal responsibility of such an interim structure should be to organise the necessary processes leading to the election of a new National Executive and ensure a smooth transfer of authority.
The association cited Section 39(5) of the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC) Act of 2022, which, according to the statement, limits the extension of the tenure of a political party’s executive to no more than six months.
FORMINA argues that the party cannot allow an expired mandate to continue indefinitely through administrative delay or political convenience.
The association has also placed responsibility on the APC’s Legal Advisers, urging them to provide an urgent and comprehensive legal opinion on the constitutional position of the outgoing leadership.
It wants the legal team to clarify the status of the current executive and recommend the most appropriate legal and constitutional mechanism for managing the transition.
The former ministers further referred to Articles 5 and 52(a) and (b) of the APC Constitution, which they say reinforce the supremacy of the party’s governing document and establish a three-year mandate for the National Executive.
FORMINA cautioned that continued uncertainty could expose the party to further internal disputes and possible litigation, with some members already threatening to seek judicial intervention to protect what they consider the constitutional and democratic integrity of the APC.
However, rather than encouraging a legal confrontation, the association said it prefers an internal resolution of the matter.
In a notable appeal, FORMINA called on Comrade Alie Suma, the APC District Chairman of Port Loko, to withdraw his legal action against the APC and the PPRC, arguing that the current dispute should preferably be resolved through dialogue and established party mechanisms.
The association warned that prolonged disagreement over the leadership question could undermine party cohesion at a time when the APC needs organisational unity and preparedness.
Its intervention comes against the backdrop of continuing internal debates within the opposition party over leadership, party structures and the interpretation of its constitutional provisions.
FORMINA’s position attempts to frame the current dispute around institutional continuity and constitutionalism, rather than personalities. The association stressed that the APC itself must remain more important than any individual officeholder or faction.
“The Party must remain above individuals, and constitutionalism must prevail over political convenience,” the former ministers stated.
The call for an interim administration could now add pressure on the outgoing leadership and other senior stakeholders to agree on a mechanism for managing the transition.
Such an arrangement, if established, would be expected to operate within a clearly defined timeframe, complete outstanding administrative and organisational matters and facilitate the convening of a National Delegates’ Conference.
FORMINA has appealed to all APC stakeholders to prioritise the wider interests of the party and prevent the leadership question from becoming a prolonged legal and political confrontation.
The association maintains that resolving the matter internally would provide the APC with an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to democratic governance and constitutional discipline while avoiding further fragmentation.
As the debate continues, attention will now focus on the response of the APC National Executive, its legal advisers and other influential stakeholders to FORMINA’s call.
The former ministers’ intervention places the question of the party’s leadership mandate firmly back at the centre of APC internal affairs, while urging the party to move quickly towards a lawful transition and a new National Executive.
