As the Tripartite Committee set to release its findings and recommendations on June 28, 2023, draws near, grassroots members of the main opposition, All People’s Congress (APC), have warned their leaders against going into compromise with the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP). They emphasize the importance of fully implementing the recommendations of the Tripartite Committee.

Allegations have surfaced that top APC officials had received financial gratifications from the SLPP camp to ensure that President Julius Maada Bio could successfully go through his second term without interference. This comes after widespread abuses, killing, and harassment of their members. According to the grassroots members, APC officials should be held accountable for their actions and any form of collusion with the ruling party should be exposed.

Several grassroots members, speaking anonymously due to fear of reprisal, expressed a strong desire to chase APC officials who they believe have sold out the party. One member stated, “It is a big win for President Bio, as many things succeeded for him due to APC betrayers. This is why the grassroots are so angry and are now targeting APC officials for their own victory.”

Ibrahim Bangura, a resident of Calaba Town in Eastern Freetown, told Nightwatch Press that they had exercised patience and restraint for too long after the election results were announced by the election authorities, but it now feels like a failed system.

“The struggle to retrieve stolen votes,” he said, “has not yielded any result after a long struggle, leaving many to suspect that nothing would come out of the Tripartite Committee’s recommendations. Endless allegations of sell-out deal the situation, according to Bangura, have made him lose hope, but the responsible should pay a high price.”

“For too long, we the grassroots have suffered as we acted blindly by embarking on street protests against the government since there is no communication between us and the party leaders. The only option now is to take on leaders of the party to put them into action,” Bangura threatened as he hoped that such steps would expose the truth and restore trust in the party. He warned that if the call is ignored, the situation could potentially change in Sierra Leone.

Waves of protest in August 2022 and September 2023 are clear shows of the grassroots power in the country’s body politic. Another APC member, holding his name until further notice, stated, “Soon all who had a big win for President Bio must face the consequences because they succeeded in tearing APC apart instead of going after ECSL for the greater good.”

He went on to state that the minority should never hold the party to ransom for their selfish gains. “The party should not only be in opposition but should focus on accountability,” he yelled.

Others have also threatened to protest against their leaders if the recommendations of the Tripartite Committee do not favor them, especially after Dr. Kaifala Marrah was accused of colluding with the chairman of the party to pour cold water on the election probe. Marrah was said to have visited the APC Chairman’s residence at night, and the outcome of the discussion still remains a closely guarded secret.

Reliable sources within APC intimated this press that the discussions within the party’s rank and file might see a possible compromise between APC and SLPP to ensure President Bio’s smooth sailing through his second term. However, grassroots members are increasingly restive and ready to reject any deal that does not address their concerns.

Warning of the APC leaders came days after allegations surfaced that SLPP used money and coercion tactics to influence APC officials. Grassroots members have issued threats to storm the APC headquarters if their demands are not met. Tuesday, at the APC headquarters, when officials were manhandled, the chairman and the Publicity Secretary barely escaped unscathed. Blood loss ensued, and the grassroots were determined to take control of the situation.

The APC grassroots have also similarly warned members of the diplomatic community in Sierra Leone not to take sides with the Bio regime, who many see as holding and exercising a “stolen mandate.”

For the APC grassroots, any attempts to thwart their efforts to reclaim their victory will not go down well. They have shown they are ready for action and will not rest until justice is served. Despite Bio’s threats, Kamara, according to the grassroots, and his team have not done enough to assure the people that APC’s victory will be protected.