In a recent announcement, the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs has revealed changes to the oath-taking and induction schedule for the main opposition APC party’s elected officials.

The modifications follow the consistent requests from the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC). These requests center on giving APC party mayors and chairpersons from various local councils the necessary time for internal consultations before an imminent dialogue.

According to the ministry’s official statement, in collaboration with the Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Local Government and Decentralization, the new schedule for the swearing-in and oath-taking ceremonies for elected Mayors, Chairpersons, and Councilors from the North-West and Northern Regions has been set.

The dates and venues are:

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  • North-West Region:
    • Date: Thursday, 19th October, 2023
    • Venue: District Council Conference Hall, Port Loko
  • Northern Region:
    • Date: Friday, 20th October, 2023
    • Venue: City Council Conference Hall, Makeni

The Vice President of Sierra Leone, Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh in his role as Chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Committee, is slated to oversee the inaugural and oath-taking ceremony, according to an official notice.

However, doubts linger regarding the participation of elected officials from the main opposition, the All People’s Congress Party (APC). This skepticism arises from APC’s recent actions: they not only refrained from all governance activities but also directed their elected members to abstain from attending the House of Parliament and assuming their responsibilities at the District level.

This abstention by the APC was a result of their non-acceptance of the June 24 general elections’ outcome, which culminated in President Julius Maada Bio’s re-election for a second term. While discussions between the government and the APC are on the horizon, the party’s definitive stance remains ambiguous.