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In a recent interview with Radio Democracy 98.1, prominent All Peoples’ Congress (APC) member Abdul Karim Kamara Esq. openly criticized Dr. Samura Kamara, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, for failing to provide effective leadership and for misleading supporters regarding the outcome of the 2023 general elections.
Kamara expressed disappointment in Samura’s approach to handling the post-election tensions within the party, stressing that as the face of the APC’s presidential campaign, Samura Kamara should have used his platform to calm supporters rather than fueling uncertainty. Kamara argued that the election results, though contested, are final. “The 2023 elections are over,” he stated. He acknowledged that while the APC continues to challenge the election results due to alleged fraud, the focus should now shift to constructive dialogue and the implementation of the recommendations from the recent tripartite talks.
“Sometimes, when you want to hold people accountable, you take the head accountable,” Kamara remarked, implying that Samura Kamara bears responsibility for the escalating internal party divisions. He further emphasized that Samura could have used the Tripartite agreement, which involves stakeholders from both the APC and the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), to lead the party towards peaceful resolution rather than confrontation.
Kamara also expressed frustration with the division within the APC, noting that the infighting weakens the party’s ability to present a unified front. He dismissed the idea that violence or extreme measures were justified in challenging the election, despite ongoing disputes over the credibility of the vote count. “We should not be ‘macheting’ ourselves,” he stated.
In addition, Kamara criticized Samura Kamara for advocating for a re-run of the election, which, according to him, led to misinformation and confusion among party members. He reiterated that the party had made it clear to Samura that it did not support a re-run election prior to the National Unity Agreement.
Despite acknowledging that the APC still possesses evidence of electoral fraud, including hundreds of bags of Internal Results Forms (IRFs), Kamara urged the party to pursue its case through democratic means and focus on reconciliation. He also hinted that the party is unlikely to publicly congratulate President Julius Maada Bio, citing the internal rift as a significant barrier.
The interview highlights ongoing challenges within the APC as it grapples with post-election fallout and the direction of its leadership.
