The opposition All People’s Congress (APC) has announced a new date of its planned Ward Elections, citing logistical preparations, but the decision has sparked fresh internal controversy amid counterclaims from senior party figure Alfred Peter Conteh.

In a public notice dated 14th February 2026 and signed by Acting National Chairman, Amb. Osman Foday Yansaneh, the party stated that following a meeting between the leadership and the Internal Elections Management Committee (IEMC), it had been agreed that the Ward Elections would now take place on Saturday, 21st February 2026, nationwide.

The statement explained that the new date would allow the IEMC sufficient time to complete training for personnel and finalise logistical arrangements to ensure a peaceful, transparent, and well-organised process. Party leadership thanked members for their patience and urged calm, unity, and commitment to internal democracy.

However, Alfred Peter Conteh has strongly disputed the official explanation, describing recent press releases from what he termed the “defunct Secretariat” as last-minute attempts to mislead the public and international partners into believing preparations for lower-level elections were underway.

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According to Conteh, the party is “not near ready” to conduct the elections, arguing that internal structures have failed to demonstrate competence or meaningful progress. He further alleged that the current executive had mishandled key political processes, including the implementation of recommendations from the Tripartite Committee, and claimed there had been questionable collaboration with Statistics Sierra Leone regarding the postponement of the 2025 census — allegations that have not been independently verified.

Conteh also raised constitutional concerns within the party, stating that the 36-month tenure of Ward, Constituency, District, and Regional Executives has expired and cannot legally be extended. He insisted that under the party’s governing framework, there is no provision for reinstatement under the present circumstances, declaring that their tenure is effectively “done and dusted.”

He called for what he described as urgent justice, peace, and the removal of what he termed an incompetent leadership, arguing that proven and patriotic leadership is now critical for the APC’s survival and credibility.

The dispute comes against the backdrop of an earlier press release from sections of the party acknowledging severe financial constraints, with references to the APC struggling to mobilise adequate funds to effectively run its activities. Critics now argue that financial challenges, rather than logistics alone, may be contributing to the delay in conducting internal elections.

The unfolding disagreement exposes deepening divisions within the APC as it attempts to reorganise its structures following recent political tensions. Whether the postponed elections will proceed as scheduled remains uncertain amid growing questions over preparedness, finances, and internal legitimacy.