Post a comment 
Popular Sierra Leonean comedian Abubakarr Sankoh, popularly known as Kindo Armani has come under criticism following comments he made in the presence of President Julius Maada Bio during the opening ceremony of the Sierra Leone Flour Mill in Cline Town, Freetown.
In a widely circulated video, Kindo urged President Bio not to hand over power to the main opposition, the All People’s Congress (APC), or any other political party.
“Maada Bio, make sure SLPP remains in power,” Kindo said during the event.
The remarks have sparked backlash from sections of the public, particularly supporters of the APC, who argue that the comments should not be dismissed as mere comedy.
“We should not treat it as just a joke, considering how fragile our democracy is currently,” one APC supporter said.
Pro-APC platform Makoni Times also compared Kindo’s statement to previous remarks by President Bio in which he reportedly said he would not allow the APC to return to power.
Political tensions between the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the APC have remained high in recent years. A series of disputes has led the opposition party to boycott governance processes on at least two occasions within the last three years.
Just weeks ago, disagreements between the two parties prompted members of the international community to intervene in efforts to resolve an impasse over the implementation of electoral reforms recommended by the Tripartite Committee.
The strained relationship between the SLPP and APC dates back decades, but tensions intensified following the disputed 2023 general elections. The APC echoed concerns raised by international observer missions, including the European Union and The Carter Center, which reported statistical inconsistencies in the election results.
