Lawyers representing Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally, a flagbearer aspirant of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), have warned of imminent court action against the party's National Publicity Secretary, Moses Mambu. In a letter dated 24 September 2026, the lawyers stated that a public notice issued by Mambu on 19 September 2026 was not authorised and demanded its withdrawal. The notice warned SLPP members and the public against transacting with Tarawally in the name of the party.
The dispute between Tarawally and the SLPP began on 17 September 2026, when SLPP National Chairman Jimmy Batilo Songa directed Tarawally to stop using the SLPP logo and presenting himself as a party member or flagbearer aspirant. Songa cited a response from the Citizens Democratic Party (CDP) stating that Tarawally remained a member of the CDP. However, Tarawally claims he resigned from the CDP in 2018 and returned to the SLPP, and has cited his participation in the SLPP's 2025 National Delegates Conference as evidence of his membership.
Tarawally's lawyers, Jengo, Sam & Partners, had requested details of any occasion on which Tarawally had allegedly conducted a transaction in the name of the SLPP and the identity of the party organ or official that authorised the public notice. However, they claimed that the response from Gevao & Associates, the law firm representing Mambu, did not address these substantive issues. The lawyers stated that they considered the notice to have been issued without sufficient authority.
The lawyers have given the SLPP seven days to comply with their demands, which include the withdrawal and retraction of the public notice. They warned that if the party fails to comply, they will proceed with court action without further notice. The SLPP's legal representatives have maintained the party's position, stating that they are prepared to defend the matter in court.
The dispute has raised questions about Tarawally's eligibility to present himself as an SLPP flagbearer aspirant. The SLPP has expressed concerns about Tarawally's membership, citing his alleged affiliation with the CDP. However, Tarawally has maintained that he is a fully paid-up SLPP member and a national delegate.
The public notice issued by Mambu has been widely circulated, and its implications have sparked debate within the SLPP and among its supporters. The party has urged its members and supporters not to conduct official business with Tarawally under the party's name or authority without authorisation from the party leadership.
The latest development has added another layer of complexity to the SLPP's internal dynamics, with the party's leadership facing pressure to resolve the dispute amicably. The SLPP's National Publicity Secretary, Moses Mambu, has yet to comment publicly on the latest developments.
Key points
- Musa Tarawally's lawyers have given the SLPP seven days to withdraw a public notice issued by Moses Mambu.
- The dispute centres on Tarawally's eligibility to present himself as an SLPP flagbearer aspirant.
- The SLPP's leadership faces pressure to resolve the dispute amicably.
