Fatima Maada Bio, the First Lady of Sierra Leone, addressed the people of Makeni, urging them to remain in the APC but vote for the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) in order to ensure the continued development of crucial sectors such as Education, Health, Gender, Agriculture, Youth Empowerment, and Rural Electrification.

Speaking before a large crowd of SLPP supporters, sympathizers, and traditional leaders at the Wusum Field in Makeni Bombali District on June 7th, 2023, Her Excellency emphasized that the upcoming general elections are not centered around President Bio or the APC, but rather about the future of Sierra Leone and its citizens, particularly the children and families.

“I implore all of you to vote wisely and cast your ballots for President Bio, enabling him to carry forward his development initiatives. Don’t waste your vote on the APC; you can maintain your affiliation with the APC while voting for the SLPP, as the government that Sierra Leone needs at this time is the SLPP government,” she asserted.

Dr. Fatima Maada Bio emphasized that these elections should focus on substantive matters, such as manifesto promises, development plans of political parties, and issues affecting the country. She acknowledged that the people’s vote in June 2023 will not be solely for President Bio but rather for key programs like Free Quality Education, School Feeding Programs, Women’s Empowerment, Hands Off Our Girls campaign, Free Sanitary Pads Distributions, Rural Electrification, and Youth Empowerment, among other development initiatives.

In his address, President Julius Maada Bio, the leader of the Sierra Leone People’s Party and the President of Sierra Leone, expressed gratitude to the party leadership in the district and commended the massive turnout of people in Makeni to welcome him. President Bio provided a detailed account of his 2023 SLPP People’s Manifesto, outlining the reasons why the people of Makeni should vote for him on June 24th.

He earnestly appealed to the people of Makeni, as well as the entirety of Bombali District, to eschew violence and ensure peaceful elections.

“On the 24th, go out, vote, return home, and await the results. Please do not allow yourselves to be manipulated by any individuals or groups. Sierra Leone is governed by the rule of law, and the law treats everyone equally,” he cautioned.

Former Vice President of the APC government and ex-Minister of Information and Communications called upon the people to join the SLPP and cast their votes for President Bio in the upcoming elections, providing compelling reasons why the residents of Makeni should transition their support from the APC to the SLPP.

Various stakeholders within the SLPP, including Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, the Leader of the NGC, expressed their gratitude and reiterated their commitment to the party’s objectives. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Prince Alex Harding, the Chairman of the Sierra Leone Peoples Party.