Post a comment 
A key figure in the All People’s Congress (APC), Dr. Sylvia Olayinka Blyden, has sharply threw jab, publicly, after the First Lady, Fatima Bio, endorsed Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr’s bid to become the APC’s flagbearer for the 2028 Presidential Election.
Blyden, who has indicated her own interest in the same role, described the First Lady’s support as “politically calculated” and “deliberately timed” to undermine her chances.
In a statement released shortly after the First Lady’s public endorsement of Mayor Aki-Sawyerr, Blyden made an accusation of electoral manipulation. In a social media post, Blyden indirectly criticised the First Lady’s move, labeling it as “White Teeth, Black Heart.”
Blyden alleged that the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) was backing Aki-Sawyerr, suggesting the Mayor might play a role in the disappearance of key election documents. Blyden specifically referenced the 2028 elections, saying, “It is only Yvonne who will know how to do certain things such as to make APC’s 2028 RRF forms disappear.”
Blyden’s comment pointed to her belief that Aki-Sawyerr’s ties to the SLPP could lead to the loss or tampering of crucial election result forms. In contrast, she promised that, under her leadership, there would be no such compromises, vowing to safeguard the integrity of APC’s electoral process.
While the Office of the First Lady and Mayor Aki-Sawyerr have not responded publicly to Blyden’s remarks, the APC figure’s statement showcases growing tensions within the party. Blyden called on APC members to learn from the mistakes of past elections and adopt more strategic tactics in preparation for the upcoming 2028 polls.
Her accusations come at a critical time for the APC, with internal divisions rising as the party approaches a pivotal leadership contest. The impact of Blyden’s words and her challenge to Aki-Sawyerr’s candidacy remains uncertain as political tensions within the APC continue to build.
