The ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) has formally rejected a demand from flag bearer aspirant Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally to retract a public notice barring him from acting in the name of the party.
In a letter dated 23rd September 2026, the party’s lawyers, Gevao & Associates, acting on instructions from SLPP National Publicity Secretary Mr. Moses Sellu Mambu, told Tarawally’s lawyers, Jengo, Sam & Partners, that the party stands by its position.
“Our instructions are to inform your client that our client and by extension the Sierra Leone People’s Party maintains its position regarding your client’s eligibility to hold himself out as an intended flag bearer candidate of the Sierra Leone People’s Party,” the letter states.
The party challenged Tarawally to proceed with threatened legal action, stating, “We write to implore you to proceed with the steps you wish to take as stated in the last paragraph of your letter. We are required and willing to defend our client’s right in any court of law.”
The letter, signed by Hindolo M. Gevao Esq. of Gevao & Associates, Mamuto Chambers, was copied to the SLPP National Leader, National Chairman, National Executive Council, National Council of Elders and the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC).
How The Dispute Started
The row stems from two notices issued by the SLPP:
On 17th September, SLPP National Chairman Jimmy Batilo Songa wrote to Tarawally directing him to stop using the SLPP logo, presenting himself as a member, or as a flag bearer aspirant. Songa said the party had written to the Citizens Democratic Party (CDP) and that CDP National Secretary General Ibrahim Sorie Sesay replied on 3rd September confirming Tarawally remains a CDP member.
Tarawally contested the 2018 presidential election as the presidential candidate of the CDP.
On 19th September, National Publicity Secretary Moses Sellu Mambu issued a public notice warning all SLPP executives, members, supporters, corporate bodies, banks and development partners within and outside Sierra Leone not to “engage, transact, negotiate or conduct any official business with Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally in the name, on behalf or under the authority of the SLPP.”
Tarawally’s Defence
In a response dated 21st September, Jengo, Sam & Partners gave the SLPP a 7-day ultimatum to withdraw the notice, provide particulars of the alleged prohibited transactions, disclose which party organ authorised it, and publish an apology.
They described the notice as defamatory, ultra vires and in breach of the SLPP Constitution, arguing Tarawally never had a disciplinary hearing.
Tarawally maintains he resigned from the CDP on 15th June 2018 and has produced a copy of a resignation letter. His lawyers say he is a fully paid-up Grand Chief Patron with dues paid up to 2028, and was an accredited National Delegate who voted at the SLPP’s 2025 National Delegates Conference.
His team also warned of possible action under the Cyber Security and Crime Act 2021, libel proceedings in the High Court, and petitions to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the ECOWAS Court of Justice.
What Is At Stake
The dispute comes as the SLPP prepares for its flag bearer contest ahead of the 2028 presidential election. Under Article 6 of the SLPP Constitution and the party’s flag bearer rules, aspirants must hold Distinguished Grand Chief Patron status for a qualifying period and must not hold membership in another political party. The 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone and the Political Parties Act also prohibit dual party membership.
The matter has now escalated from an internal party notice to a potential test case before the courts or the PPRC, which regulates political parties.
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