SLPP’s 14th Delegates Conference: A Blueprint for Democratic Leadership
In a nation where political processes are often fraught with tension and skepticism, the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) has once again demonstrated its steadfast commitment to democracy. The party’s 14th National Delegates Conference, held at the Bintumani Conference Centre in Freetown, was not merely a routine political event it was a showcase of transparency, unity, and institutional maturity.
Observers and stakeholders across the board praised the convention for its credibility and openness. The proceedings were conducted in the full view of the public and media, underscoring the SLPP’s unwavering belief that internal democracy is the bedrock of national progress.
Delegates from every district in Sierra Leone converged peacefully to elect a new executive body in an atmosphere marked by order, mutual respect, and political tolerance. This conference was a powerful testament to the SLPP’s legacy of participatory governance and democratic integrity.
In a closely contested but respectful race for the party’s highest office, Jimmy Batilo Songa emerged as the new National Chairman, securing 618 votes against Eng. Amara J. Kanneh’s 396 votes. His election is widely viewed as a call for renewed energy and unity within the party as it gears up for the 2028 general elections.
For the position of National Secretary-General, Hon. Paran Tarawalie, currently serving as Clerk of Parliament, won in a landslide with 848 votes, defeating Deputy Minister Sarjoh Aziz-Kamara, who garnered just 101 votes. Tarawalie brings a wealth of legislative and administrative experience to the party’s engine room, further strengthening its institutional capacity.
The newly elected executive also includes:
Deputy Chairman Robert Kondema Kargbo
National Treasurer Judith Kosseh
Auditor Augustine J.J. Tommy
Financial Secretary Shaka Sannoh
Chaplain Smart Senesie
Legal Adviser Anthony Berewa
This team now carries the responsibility of steering the party forward, consolidating past gains while embracing the SLPP’s founding principles of unity, progress, and service.
What set this conference apart, however, was not just the results but the spirit in which it was conducted. Both candidates and supporters displayed remarkable maturity, cementing SLPP’s standing as one of the most democratically disciplined political organizations in Sierra Leone today.
President Julius Maada Bio, the party’s leader and President of the Republic, set the tone early with a powerful message ahead of the elections. He reaffirmed his commitment to neutrality and encouraged delegates to vote based on merit, character, and vision.
Vote for someone who will unite the party and continue on the good trajectory that the previous Chairman and his executive have taken the party,” President Bio advised.
“Leadership is not defined by age or titles but by character, vision and service. Let the best among us rise. Let the rest of us lift them up.”
A special commendation goes to Ambassador Yongawo, appointed as Chairman of the Independent Elections Monitoring and Oversight Committee (IEMOC). Under his leadership, the IEMOC delivered what has been hailed as one of the most transparent and efficiently conducted party elections in recent memory. The professionalism, planning, and impartiality demonstrated by the oversight team played a pivotal role in the success and credibility of the entire process.
As the new executive assumes office, the SLPP stands not only united but reinvigorated. The road to 2028 begins now with a leadership team committed to a government that listens, a party that unites, and a future that delivers for every Sierra Leonean.
