Journalist Chernoh Bah Questions SLPP’s 2028 Ambition After President Bio Hints at a Third-Term

The editor-in-chief of Africanist Press, Chernoh Alpha M. Bah, has raised concerns over recent statements made by President Julius Maada Bio about the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) planning to win a third term in office.

His concerns were in response to President Bio’s recent proclamation, claiming that no political party in Sierra Leone has ever won elections three times in a row and that the SLPP plans to do so in the 2028 general elections.

Although President Bio did not affirm his interest to run for a third-term, the statement has sparked discussions about the SLPP’s strategic plans and direction ahead of the 2028 elections.

Bah described the party’s third-term aspiration as troubling, especially given how the 2023 elections were handled.

He argues that President Bio’s second term followed what he calls an electoral coup and a tripartite agreement that he believes lacked legitimacy.

According to Bah, the outcome did not reflect the will of the people, and the institutions involved in managing the process failed to carry out their responsibilities properly.

He believes that keeping the SLPP in power beyond 2028, under the current circumstances, could cause further damage to the country’s democratic systems.

Bah has called on civil society, regional bodies, and international partners to remain alert and avoid supporting any effort that builds on what he sees as a flawed foundation. He also warned that normalizing the 2023 outcome could set a pattern for future elections.

President Bio has previously said he respects constitutional term limits and has not declared any intention to seek a third term personally. Still, his recent remarks about the SLPP’s plans have raised new questions about how the party intends to move forward.