By Joseph Turay
As the cost of living continues to squeeze households across Sierra Leone, many citizens are asking a simple but important question: Where is the official opposition?
In every healthy democracy, an opposition party serves as the voice of the people.
It scrutinises government policies, proposes alternatives, holds those in power accountable and amplifies the concerns of ordinary citizens.
At a time when families are struggling with rising food prices, high transport fares, persistent electricity shortages, unemployment and declining purchasing power, many Sierra Leoneans expected the All People’s Congress (APC) to be leading that conversation.
Instead, the public image of the party has become increasingly dominated by internal power struggles, speculation over the 2028 presidential flagbearer and factional disputes.
Rather than presenting a united front on the economic hardships confronting the nation, senior party figures appear more focused on positioning themselves for future leadership.
Public debates within the APC increasingly revolve around personalities rather than policies.
This has left many supporters questioning whether the party’s priorities still reflect the aspirations of the people it seeks to govern.
For a party that once governed Sierra Leone, this perception carries serious political risks.
Many grassroots supporters feel disconnected from the party’s national leadership.
They want to hear clear proposals on reducing the cost of living, improving healthcare, creating jobs for young people and addressing the country’s economic difficulties.
Instead, they often witness public disagreements, competing camps and an apparent struggle for influence within the party itself.
Political ambition is not inherently wrong. Every democratic party must prepare for future elections and identify potential leaders. However, when leadership contests overshadow the pressing concerns of citizens years before an election, the party risks appearing detached from the realities facing the electorate.
Another challenge confronting the APC is the legacy of its own time in government.
Many of the individuals seeking prominent roles today are familiar faces from previous administrations.
Fairly or unfairly, some voters associate them with the governance failures, internal divisions and controversies that contributed to the party’s loss of power.
That history raises legitimate questions about whether the APC is offering genuine renewal or recycling the same political class.
A party seeking to regain public confidence must demonstrate that it has learned from past mistakes. That requires more than changing slogans or promoting familiar personalities.
It requires new ideas, greater accountability and a willingness to empower a new generation of leaders.
Questions have also emerged among sections of the party’s support base about the relationship between some opposition figures and the current administration
. Critics argue that certain APC politicians have adopted a less confrontational approach than expected, fuelling speculation among supporters that political or personal interests may at times take precedence over robust opposition.
While such perceptions should not be mistaken for established fact, they highlight a growing trust deficit that the party leadership cannot afford to ignore.
Whether those perceptions are fair or not, politics is often shaped by public confidence. If supporters believe their leaders are insufficiently vocal on issues affecting ordinary citizens, that belief alone can weaken the party’s credibility.
The APC cannot expect voters to entrust it with national leadership if it appears unable to unite behind a coherent vision while in opposition.
Sierra Leoneans do not need an opposition consumed by internal rivalries.
They need an opposition that consistently challenges government policies where necessary, supports measures that serve the national interest and offers practical alternatives to improve people’s lives.
The country’s democratic health depends not only on the performance of the government but also on the effectiveness of the opposition.
A weak or distracted opposition diminishes accountability and reduces the quality of public debate.
As the next election approaches, the APC faces a defining choice.
It can continue to devote its energy to internal contests and personality politics, or it can reconnect with the everyday struggles of the people by becoming a credible advocate for economic recovery, good governance and national development.
Ultimately, Sierra Leoneans are less interested in who becomes the APC’s next presidential candidate than in who is prepared to speak for them today. Leadership is not measured only by campaign speeches or political manoeuvring. It is measured by the willingness to stand with citizens during difficult times, challenge policies that deepen hardship and present practical solutions for a better future.
Until the opposition demonstrates that commitment consistently, many voters may continue to question whether it is truly ready to govern again.
