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Former minister and APC member Sylvia Olayinka Blyden has debunked a statement made by President Bio at the SLPP 14th National Delegate Conference at the Freetown International Conference Centre.
President Bio stated that no political party has ever won three consecutive elections in the history of Sierra Leone. Blyden, in a social media post with references, showed that the APC had won three general elections in a row in the country in 1967, 1973, and 1977, even before Sierra Leone moved into a one-party political system.
She explained that in 1973, the SLPP boycotted the elections because of fears over possible fraud. But she added that the party still contested in both the 1967 and 1977 elections. According to her, all three elections were held under a multi-party system, and the APC won each one, which she said makes them the first party in Sierra Leone to win three straight general elections.
Blyden said the SLPP was in power during the 1967 election and lost to the APC. Then, in 1977, the SLPP was the main opposition party and again lost to the APC. She pointed out that the shift to a one-party state only came later, starting in 1978, after the APC had already won those three elections through a multi-party process.
She also noted that Siaka Stevens became President through a parliamentary vote in 1971 and was re-elected in the same way in 1976. Even during the one-party era that came after, she said there were still elections held where more than one candidate could contest for seats across different constituencies.
She urged others online to pass down what she called the correct version of Sierra Leone’s political history. She said it is not true that multi-party democracy in the country only began in 1996 and pointed to the elections of the 1960s and 70s as proof.
Her post started circulating widely online, drawing public reactions and debates. People have been discussing whether the APC’s record from that time should be counted now in response to President Bio’s recent statement.
She believes the APC already reached that point in the 60s and 70s before the political system changed. As the 2028 elections approach, both parties are now being measured by their records and present goals.
The only way sierra Leone can prosper is going to the beginning,having a prime minister that control the running of the state and making the president holding only ceremonial role. Voted parliamentarian in the majority can then form a government,so as to forget about regionalism and tribalism steering politics because that’s what these two parties are after.
My humble submissions are;
Vote for people who will lead by example.
Vote for a person of can deliver his or her camping promises.
Vote for a person with a manifesto that is of interest to the nation and her people.