The Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) legal team has rejected demands from lawyers representing Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally over a public notice concerning his status within the party. In a letter dated 23 September 2026, the SLPP legal team, GEVÃO & Associates, maintained that the party stands by its position on Tarawally's eligibility to present himself as an intended flagbearer candidate. This move escalates an ongoing dispute over Tarawally's membership of the SLPP and his claim to be an aspirant for the party's flagbearership.
The dispute intensified after SLPP National Chairman Jimmy Batilo Songa directed Tarawally to stop presenting himself as an SLPP member or flagbearer aspirant, citing correspondence from the Citizens Democratic Party (CDP) concerning his membership status. Tarawally has rejected the dual-membership claim, maintaining that he resigned from the CDP in 2018 and subsequently returned to the SLPP. His lawyers had argued that he remains a fully paid-up SLPP member and that the party's actions were not supported by the required disciplinary procedures.
The SLPP public notice, dated 19 September 2026, prompted a legal demand from Jengo, Sam & Partners, lawyers for Tarawally, challenging the notice and calling for its withdrawal and retraction. The lawyers representing Tarawally had also demanded particulars concerning the basis of the notice and threatened further legal action if their demands were not addressed. Rather than withdrawing the notice, the SLPP legal team told Tarawally's lawyers to proceed with whatever legal steps they had indicated.
The SLPP legal team, led by Moses Sellu Mambu, said they had received the correspondence sent on behalf of Tarawally and were instructed to respond. The team stated that they are required and willing to defend their client's right in any court of law. This move signals the party's readiness to defend its position in court, potentially moving the dispute beyond the party's internal processes and into formal legal proceedings.
Tarawally's claim to be an SLPP member and flagbearer aspirant has been disputed by the party, which cited correspondence from the CDP. The SLPP National Publicity Secretary's office had issued a public notice questioning Tarawally's eligibility. The notice was a response to Tarawally's continued presentation of himself as an SLPP member and flagbearer aspirant despite the party's concerns.
The ongoing dispute has significant implications for the SLPP, particularly as the party prepares for upcoming elections. The party's decision to defend its position in court may have far-reaching consequences for Tarawally's political career and the party's internal dynamics. The SLPP's move to defend its position may also set a precedent for future disputes within the party.
The dispute between Tarawally and the SLPP has garnered significant attention within Sierra Leone's political landscape. The SLPP's decision to defend its position in court may have implications for the country's electoral and political system. The case may also raise questions about the party's internal processes and the role of its leadership in resolving disputes.
Key points
- The SLPP party rejects demands from Musa Tarawally's lawyers over his eligibility as a flagbearer candidate.
- The dispute escalates an ongoing debate over Tarawally's membership of the SLPP and his claim to be an aspirant for the party's flagbearership.
- The SLPP's decision to defend its position in court may have far-reaching consequences for Tarawally's political career and the party's internal dynamics.
