Dr Ibrahim Bangura (DIB)Following the announcement of the party’s National Delegates Conference (NDC) dates, Dr Ibrahim Bangura (DIB) is expected to be elected as the All People’s Congress (APC) flagbearer.
The conference is set to take place from August 9 to 12, 2026, at Bai Bureh Hall in Port Loko Township, Port Loko District. With the NDC on the agenda, supporters and delegates are increasingly positioning the party to rally behind a candidate whom they believe can challenge the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and reclaim the presidency in 2028. Across party gatherings and grassroots meetings, delegates have stated unequivocally that they want a new leader for the APC.
That demand stems from concerns about the party’s recent electoral outcomes, including a fear of history repeating itself. Supporters cite the 2023 campaign season, when the APC’s presidential candidate, Dr Samura Kamara, was embroiled in legal issues that kept him in court rather than on the campaign trail. Many party members are determined to avoid a similar situation in 2028.
“We want someone that the SLPP will not be able to charge with corruption; they did it with Dr Samura Kamara and will not allow it to happen again in 2028,” one supporter said on Saturday at a large party meeting at Attouga Stadium. When asked to elaborate, party member Tejan Mansaray claimed that the SLPP orchestrated the Commission of Inquiry (COI) and kept its White Paper to prevent political rivals from running for president.
“SLPP intended to use the COI White Paper to dwarf any challenger for the presidency in 2028, which is why we need a fresh face who has never served in any capacity in the previous government,” Mansaray stated. Calls for a candidate with a perfect political record have been loud and persistent. At the same weekend gathering, Fatmata Kamara, a female APC supporter, echoed the call for new leadership, citing Dr Ibrahim Bangura as the best candidate to lead the party forward. Kamara stated that she was one of thousands who wanted Dr Bangura to take over the leadership and return the APC to the State House.
“DIB will finalise his 2028 bid in August in Port Loko,” she added.
Endorsements for Dr Bangura, according to supporters, are rapidly spreading through the party’s grassroots networks. Those who support him argue that a new, untainted candidate would be better positioned to mount an effective campaign against the SLPP while avoiding legal tactics that they believe have undermined previous APC bids.
With the National Delegates Conference date set and internal sentiment convergent on the need for renewal, the APC faces critical decisions on candidate selection and strategy ahead of the 2028 election. It remains to be seen whether Dr Ibrahim Bangura will be nominated by the party, but his name is clearly on the minds of both delegates and grassroots supporters.
