On June 24, 2023, voters in Sierra Leone will be going to the polls to elect a new president, parliamentarians, and local council members in a multi-tier general election.
The Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone has confirmed 13 political parties have qualified to present their presidential candidates for the upcoming elections in Sierra Leone.
The final list of nominated candidates for the Presidential election has been gazetted, and FactSpace West Africa has compiled brief biographies of all the candidates.
- Julius Maada Bio, Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP)
Julius Maada Bio, the current President of Sierra Leone, has a military background, having graduated from the Benguema Military Academy and served as Sierra Leone’s military Head of State for a brief period in 1996. After seeking asylum in the United States, Bio returned to politics and ran as the SLPP presidential candidate in 2012 but was unsuccessful. However, he won the 2018 presidential election, defeating Samura Kamara of the All Peoples Congress with 51.8% of the votes.
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- Dr Samura Matthew Wilson Kamara, All Peoples Congress
Dr. Samura Matthew Wilson Kamara, an economist, represented the All Peoples Congress in the 2018 presidential election. He secured 48.2% of the votes in the run-off against the SLPP candidate. Kamara, aged 72, has held positions such as Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation from 2012 to 2017, Minister of Finance and Economic Development from 2009 to 2013, Governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone from 2007 to 2009, and Financial Secretary in the Ministry of Finance during President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah’s administration.
- Mohamed Chernoh Bah, National Democratic Alliance (NDA)
Mohamed Chernoh Bah, the chosen presidential candidate for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), will represent the party in the upcoming elections. Mohamed previously led the NDA during the 2018 elections, where the party secured 17,748 votes, equivalent to 0.96% of the total votes.
- Prince Coker, People’s Democratic Party (PDP)
Prince Coker, Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), is the party’s Presidential Candidate. With a wealth of political experience, he leads the PDP and champions its values of democracy, inclusivity, and social justice. Coker has played a crucial role in the party’s success and has also served as the Chairman of the All Political Parties Association (APPA), showcasing his ability to foster collaboration among diverse political factions.
- Jonjo Mohamed, Citizen’s Democratic Party (CDP)
Jonjo has served as a Senior Advisor/Specialist in Water Quality and Nature Management at the Ministry of Infrastructure & Water Management in the Netherlands. He is believed to have played a vital role as a board member of Holland-Sierra Trading, fostering trade links between the Netherlands and Sierra Leone.
- Kabuta Saa Henry, United National Peoples Party (UNPP)
Kabuta, a Senior Advisor/Specialist in Water Quality and Nature Management at the Ministry of Infrastructure & Water Management in the Netherlands, has also served on the board of Holland-Sierra Trading, which promotes trade between the Netherlands and Sierra Leone.
- Kakay Iye, Alliance Democratic Party
Kakay Iye, who is the only female seeking the Presidential bid. She also made history by becoming the first woman to be selected as the ADP’s presidential flagbearer since its establishment in 2015 by its founder, Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray.
- Nabieu Musa Kamara, Peace and Liberation Party (PLP)
He prioritizes development, aiming for significant growth and progress. The PLP has detailed plans to address infrastructure, healthcare, education, and the economy, believing that investing in these areas will lead to a prosperous future for the country.
- Charles Francis Margai, People’s Movement For Democratic Change
Charles previously finished third with 10% of the vote in the 2007 presidential elections. Son of former Prime Minister Albert Margai and nephew of Sierra Leone’s first Prime Minister Milton Margai, Margai remains influential in shaping the political landscape despite receiving less than 3% of the votes in the 2012 and 2018 elections.
- Saccoh Abdulahi, Revolutionary United Front Party
Before being selected as the flag bearer for RUFP, Saccoh served as the party’s spokesperson. He has served as the party’s spokesperson.
- Jonathan Patrick Sandy, National Unity and Reconciliation Party’s
With 25 years of experience in promoting democratic governance, justice, and human rights, Sandy enters politics. He has held positions in the Sierra Leone government, ECOWAS/UNDP, African Union, and UN/World Bank, focusing on crisis intervention in African conflict zones. His vast expertise makes him a candidate knowledgeable in regional and international affairs.
- Mohamed Sowa-Turay, United Democratic Movement’s
Mohamed has worked at the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA), as well as positions as a Social Worker at Catholic Relief Services and a CLTS facilitator with Help Salone. His work with the National Agency for International Migration and Development was centred on issues like youth empowerment, employment security management (ESMS), and WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene).
- Williams Beresford Victor, Republican National Independent Party (ReNIP)
Williams took over as chairman of the Republican National Independent Party (ReNIP) on January 7, 2018, after the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC) granted the party permission to run in the 2018 elections. Despite receiving 2,555 votes nationwide, representing 0.10% of all votes cast, ReNIP did not win any seats in parliament.
By: Julius Kofi Satsi
