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All People’s Congress (APC) flagbearer aspirant Dr Ibrahim Bangura has called for unity, reconciliation and renewal within the party, urging members to put aside their differences and remain united as the contest for the APC’s 2028 flagbearer position intensifies.
Bangura made the call on September 11, 2026, during a town hall meeting with APC members and Sierra Leoneans at the JK Banquet Hall in Forest Hill, London, where he also launched the DIB Iron Ladies APC UK & Ireland, a women-led support group backing his flagbearer bid.
Speaking under his campaign theme, “Heal. Unite. Build.”, Dr Bangura said the APC must address its internal divisions while preserving the party’s unity throughout the leadership contest.
“There can only be one eventual flagbearer, but there must remain one APC,” he said.
He urged supporters of the various aspirants to respect one another, arguing that competition for the flagbearer position should not create divisions that could permanently weaken the party.
Bangura also called for greater involvement of women, young people and Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora in the future leadership and decision-making processes of the APC. He said these groups should be treated as partners in shaping the party rather than simply as sources of electoral support.
While highlighting his experience in governance, peacebuilding and development, Bangura said leadership also requires character, sound judgement, humility and the willingness to listen.
He pledged that, if elected flagbearer, he would reach across the party to both supporters and opponents.
He described his leadership vision as “experience without entitlement, confidence without arrogance, calmness without weakness, renewal without disrespect for our history, and ambition without division.”
The launch of the DIB Iron Ladies UK & Ireland chapter adds to the international support network around Bangura’s campaign.
Madam Jeneba Sesay, CEO of the DIB Iron Ladies, has been credited with developing the group into a platform focused on service, solidarity and national renewal.
The group has previously endorsed Bangura’s flagbearer bid, citing his emphasis on inclusion and community-level engagement. Sesay has also said that Sierra Leone needs leadership capable of promoting healing and providing clear national direction during difficult periods.
Dr Bangura is an Associate Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone.
He has worked with international organisations including the United Nations, ECOWAS and the European Union. He is also a partner at Transition International, a consultancy firm he co-founded in 2006 to support the reintegration of ex-combatants and countries transitioning from conflict to sustainable peace.
Bangura holds a PhD from the Leipzig School of Management in Germany, an MSc from the University of Amsterdam and an MSc in Gender Studies from the University of Sierra Leone.
In 2024 and 2025, he was selected as an Africa Oxford Visiting Fellow at the University of Oxford.
Bangura’s campaign comes as the APC prepares for its National Delegates Conference, where the party is expected to select its flagbearer for the 2028 general elections.
A recent opinion poll cited by his campaign reportedly placed Bangura ahead of other aspirants, with 64 per cent support among the party members surveyed. The poll result was presented as part of the growing momentum around his candidacy.
His campaign has focused on institutional reform, economic discipline and national cohesion, while calling for a departure from what it describes as personality-driven politics.
Bangura has also repeatedly advocated for a peaceful, transparent and credible internal electoral process, arguing that the manner in which the APC conducts its flagbearer election will be important to the party’s preparations for the 2028 national contest.
With several aspirants competing for the party’s nomination, the emphasis on reconciliation and unity is likely to remain central to the APC’s internal political discussions as the delegates conference approaches.
