Why First Lady Fatima Bio Moved Quickly to Endorse Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr
A political controversy has emerged following the First Lady’s public endorsement of Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, a move that came a day after Sylvia Olayinka Blyden announced she was considering a bid for the All People’s Congress flagbearer position.
In a strongly worded statement, Blyden interpreted the endorsement by Fatima Maada Bio as a calculated political signal. She argued that the First Lady’s support suggests a preference for Aki-Sawyerr as a potential APC flagbearer to face the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party in 2028, rather than Blyden herself.
Blyden rejected suggestions that the endorsement was a personal slight, insisting instead that it reflected strategic calculations. She alleged that past electoral outcomes were shaped by the mishandling or disappearance of Results Reconciliation Forms (RRFs), and questioned whether key documents from previous elections—particularly the 2023 Freetown mayoral race—could be produced.
According to Blyden, meaningful reform within the APC is essential if the party is to avoid repeating past electoral failures. She maintained that transparency and strict safeguarding of electoral records would be central to any future campaign she leads, arguing that this, rather than personal rivalry, explains the First Lady’s swift intervention.
The remarks have intensified debate within opposition circles, highlighting lingering disputes over electoral integrity and strategy as Sierra Leone’s political actors begin positioning for the 2028 elections.
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