The All People’s Congress (APC) has unveiled new and highly stringent eligibility guidelines for aspirants seeking the party’s presidential flagbearership ahead of Sierra Leone’s 2028 general elections, a move that political observers say could significantly reduce the number of qualified contenders.

According to the newly issued party document, aspirants must secure a minimum overall score of 70 percent in a comprehensive vetting process, with no individual assessment category falling below 50 percent.

The APC leadership said the rules were deliberately designed to ensure that only candidates deemed competent, ethical and electorally viable emerge as the party’s standard-bearer.

According to report, the vetting framework was adopted in response to intense intra-party competition and the party’s determination not to lose the 2028 elections. “The APC cannot afford to lose the next elections,” the leadership stated, adding that the new process is intended to select a candidate capable of mobilising nationwide support and winning power.

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Under the guidelines, the vetting exercise will last three days and will be conducted at the APC headquarters in Freetown. The process will be overseen by a vetting committee chaired by the National Chairman or his deputy.

The committee will include representatives of the National Advisory Committee, the Women’s Wing, the Young Congress, the APC Elders’ Council, the Visibility Wing, and the National Secretary-General, who will serve as secretary to the committee.

The first phase requires aspirants to submit a formal letter of interest along with a detailed curriculum vitae, personal and educational background, employment history, and evidence of public service. Aspirants must also demonstrate at least five consecutive years of uninterrupted membership in the APC and must not have defected to another political party during that period.

The second phase involves extensive background checks, including police clearance, scrutiny for financial impropriety, verification of academic and professional credentials, and assessment of personal financial transparency. According to the party, only aspirants found to be ethically and legally sound will advance to the final stage.

In the third phase, aspirants will face a formal interview to assess leadership capacity and strategic thinking. Candidates will be required to present a national vision, demonstrate knowledge of domestic and international policy, outline strategies for governance and party organisation, show fundraising and mobilisation capacity, and propose plans for party unity and national cohesion.

Additional eligibility requirements include possession of at least a first university degree, with postgraduate qualifications considered an advantage, a minimum of five years’ experience in national-level governance or political leadership, endorsements from at least 20 qualified party delegates, and evidence of political appeal beyond a single district.

The scoring system assigns 20 percent each to party loyalty and leadership and governance experience, while educational merit, legal and ethical record, political vision and strategy, and financial standing and transparency each carry 15 percent.

The party also reaffirmed its position on dual nationality, stating that individuals with dual citizenship are currently barred from contesting for the flagbearership and all other party positions unless statutory reforms are enacted. Although proposals have been made at the national level to allow dual nationals to contest for certain offices, the presidency remains excluded, and the issue is still under consideration amid reported resistance from some sitting MPs.

Any aspirant dissatisfied with the vetting outcome will have the right to appeal within three days to the Independent Elections Complaint Body, which is expected to resolve such matters within seven days, according to the APC.

Political analysts note that the strict benchmarks could mean that only a small number of aspirants will be able to meet the 70 percent threshold. Some observers have suggested that the guidelines may have been crafted to favour a particular candidate, though the party has not acknowledged such claims.

The APC leadership maintains that the overriding objective of the new rules is electability. Party officials argue that without winning power, even the most comprehensive policy programmes cannot be implemented. As the race toward 2028 begins to take shape, attention is now focused on which aspirant, if any, will successfully navigate the party’s demanding new selection process and emerge as the APC’s presidential flagbearer.