Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) National Chairman, Jimmy Batilo Songa, has urged constituency chairmen to await a directive from President Julius Maada Bio on who should become the party’s next flagbearer.

Speaking in Bo, Batilo Songa said party members, as Christians, believe in following the commandments and suggested that President Bio would present a name for them to follow.

He stated that if President Bio brings a name to party members as a commandment, saying, “thou shalt be,” he, as National Chairman, would have to respond by saying, “thou shalt follow his way and follow the leader.”

Batilo Songa further clarified that the SLPP has not yet officially declared a proper candidate for the position of flagbearer.

The National Chairman’s remarks have, however, sparked criticism among some SLPP stakeholders and supporters, who argue that the party should allow a free, fair and transparent process for the election of its next flagbearer.

They maintain that the choice of flagbearer should reflect the will and decision of party members rather than being determined through a directive or dictate from President Bio.

The debate has consequently raised questions among party supporters about the process the SLPP will adopt in selecting its flagbearer ahead of the next political contest.