Charles Margai, the leader of the People’s Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC), has declared his support for Sierra Leone’s main opposition party, the All People’s Congress (APC), ahead of the upcoming multi-tier elections.

In a video circulating on social media, Margai was seen alongside APC party officials as his official declaration for the APC was announced.

Margai, who previously ran as the PMDC presidential candidate in the 2007 election and secured third place with 10% of the vote, had received less than 3% of the votes in both the 2012 and 2018 Sierra Leone presidential elections. However, his political journey has been marked by twists and turns.

In 2018, shortly after being appointed, a leaked memo from Margai to President Bio revealed his request for permission to dismiss the Chief Justice of Sierra Leone and other APC officials. As a consequence, President Bio dismissed Margai without providing an official reason, leading to his replacement by Dr. Patrica Schwartz.

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With a tenure of less than two months, Margai became the shortest-serving Attorney General and Minister of Justice in Sierra Leone’s history. Nevertheless, he still holds a senior position at the Bar.

Margai’s political affiliations have shifted over the years. He was initially a member of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), co-founded by his uncle, Milton Margai, in 1951.

After failing to secure the SLPP nomination for the 1996 presidential elections, he left the party and joined the National Unity Party, running in the subsequent parliamentary election. Margai later returned to the SLPP and served as Minister of Internal Affairs and Local Government in 1998, followed by a role as Minister of Safety and Security from 1999.

In 2002, Margai announced his intention to seek the leadership of the SLPP and its presidential nomination but was prevented from doing so by a High Court ruling, which deemed him technically not a member of the party. Subsequently, in 2005, he formed the People’s Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC) after breaking ties with the SLPP. Although the registration of the PMDC faced challenges, it was officially registered on January 19, 2006.

During the 2007 presidential election, Margai ran as the PMDC’s presidential candidate, securing third place with 13.9% of the vote. Following the first round, he pledged his support to Ernest Bai Koroma of the APC and campaigned jointly with the party, leading to the APC’s victory in the second round of the election.

For the upcoming general elections scheduled for June 24, Margai has been temporarily cleared as one of the 13 presidential candidates. His running mate is Tony Bob Hindolo Songa.

Margai’s decision to align with the APC could have significant implications for the political landscape of Sierra Leone as the country approaches the crucial electoral period.

Watch video of his declaration below: