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The ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) has issued a formal statement unequivocally condemning what it described as “hate speech and inflammatory rhetoric” directed at President Julius Maada Bio during a recent opposition gathering.
The statement, released on February 6, 2026, by SLPP National Chairman Jimmy Batilo Songa, expressed firm support for ongoing criminal investigations by the Sierra Leone Police into the conduct of high-ranking members of the All People’s Congress (APC).
The SLPP’s grievance stems from an APC meeting held on January 31, 2026, at the Atouga Mini Stadium in Freetown. The ruling party alleged that APC National Secretary General Lansana Dumbuya, Zainab Sheriff, and other members expressed views intended to “vilify, humiliate, and incite hatred” against the President.
“Such hateful rhetoric is not only deeply regrettable but it profoundly undermines the foundations of our democracy,” the statement read, adding that the conduct transcended “acceptable bounds” of freedom of expression by encouraging violence.
The SLPP dismissed a February 4 press release from the APC that sought to justify the rhetoric as “wholly inadequate, spurious, and without merit”.
Furthermore, the ruling party challenged the APC’s continued questioning of the 2023 presidential election results. The SLPP noted that because no APC member challenged the results within the legally mandated seven-day period following the declaration, their current claims lack legal standing and are “delusional” attempts to sow political instability.
Chairman Songa’s statement confirmed that the SLPP “wholeheartedly supports” the Sierra Leone Police in their criminal investigation, calling it a vital step toward political accountability.
The party also commended the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC) for its “swift actions” following a February 2 notice regarding the APC’s alleged contravention of the Political Parties Act 2022. The PPRC recently imposed fines totaling NLe 350,000 on the APC and the named individuals for “inciting” statements made during the Atouga rally.
The SLPP concluded by calling on all stakeholders and “moral guarantors” to join in condemning hate speech and obscenity in public discourse. The party reiterated its commitment to the recommendations of the Tripartite Committee—a dialogue comprised of the Government, the APC, and international partners—while emphasizing that the opposition must operate “within the bounds of the law”.
