The Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) Chairman for Constituency 008 in Kailahun District, Nelson M. Lahai, has submitted a formal letter of complaint, dissatisfaction, and recommendation to the SLPP National Chairman regarding the sale of SLPP membership cards ahead of the lower-level elections in his constituency.

In the letter, dated Wednesday, February 4, 2024, Chairman Lahai alleged irregularities in the distribution of 3,500 party membership cards assigned to his constituency.

He emphasized that, as the duly elected chairman, he personally signed for the cards, which were intended for sale across the two chiefdoms in his constituency. However, to his “greatest dismay,” the cards were initially handed over to his secretary but were allegedly transferred “dubiously” to Hon. Wuyata Songa without his consent.

Chairman Lahai further claimed that when he requested the cards for general sale to party members, Hon. Wuyata Songa informed him that she had already purchased all the cards, making them unavailable for distribution.

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Following a meeting with the SLPP Kailahun District Chairman, it became apparent that his secretary had conspired with Hon. Wuyata Songa to deliberately withhold the cards from him.

Describing the situation as “an alarming development” that could potentially lead to tensions and violence, Chairman Lahai expressed concern that legitimate party members were being deprived of access to membership cards. He also criticized the SLPP Kailahun District Chairman for failing to intervene and resolve the issue as expected.

Recommendations

In his letter, which was copied to multiple senior party officials, including the SLPP National Leader, National Secretary General, and the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC), Chairman Lahai recommended that:

Since he was the authorized signatory for the membership cards, he should be the one to oversee their distribution and sale in the interest of transparency.

The cards currently in Hon. Wuyata Songa’s possession should be retrieved and handed over to him for proper sale before the elections.

It can be recalled that, in compliance with the National Executive Council (NEC) resolution dated January 20, 2025, new SLPP membership cards were to be printed and sold ahead of the lower-level elections, which are scheduled to commence on February 8, 2025.