The Clause and The Return of Dr. Kandeh Yumkella

 

By Augustine Gbla

 

> “Any member aspiring to be Flag Bearer of the Party shall be a Grand Chief Patron who has maintained such status for at least five (5) consecutive years immediately preceding the National Delegates Conference.”

— SLPP Constitution, Article 6, Section 2(c)

 

In politics, ambition often disguises itself as principle. But in the case of Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, it barely attempts to hide. His journey from the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) to the formation of the National Grand Coalition (NGC), and his eventual return to the SLPP in 2024, is less a tale of ideological transformation and more a calculated story of political repositioning. His re-entry, just a year after the 2023 general elections, comes with presidential aspirations. But those ambitions collide head-on with one unavoidable obstacle. The clause.

 

Let us begin with the rule itself. The SLPP Constitution is crystal clear.

 

> “Any member aspiring to be Flag Bearer of the Party shall be a Grand Chief Patron who has maintained such status for at least five (5) consecutive years immediately preceding the National Delegates Conference.”

 

This provision under Article 6, Section 2(c), was not inserted on a whim. It functions as a political firewall. It ensures that only those with a deep and sustained commitment to the SLPP can aspire to lead it. It is a clause born out of necessity, to preserve loyalty, discipline and institutional memory within the party. It is the party’s insurance against fair-weather friends and returning opportunists.

 

By that standard, Dr. Kandeh Yumkella simply does not qualify. Having only rejoined the SLPP in 2024, he falls far short of the five consecutive years of Grand Chief Patron status. His initial departure from the party in 2017 was not subtle. It was a loud, defiant, and fiery split filled with condemnation, accusations, and a public divorce that many at the time believed was final.

 

> “The SLPP Constitution does not reward returning tourists. It honours committed pilgrims.”

— Augustine Gbla

 

When Yumkella left in 2017, it was not in silence. He accused both the SLPP and the APC of corrupting Sierra Leone’s democracy. He described the APC as a “political cartel” and the SLPP as “a broken family trapped in internal tribalism and elite capture.” He argued that both parties had contributed to the collapse of public service, deepening poverty and fueling youth unemployment. He painted both parties with the same dirty brush. His words were powerful and unfiltered.

 

He declared that the old order must fall. That the politics of patronage and personality cults had to be dismantled. That the system was rigged and the people deserved a new beginning. This sentiment resonated with many young Sierra Leoneans who felt abandoned and disillusioned. In that political vacuum, Yumkella launched the National Grand Coalition with reformist fanfare.

 

He promised transparency. He campaigned on good governance. He pledged to build institutions and lead a new political culture. He was bold in calling out the shady procurement deals, tribal alignments, politicised public service and the two-party stranglehold on the country. His campaign ignited hope for a credible third force in Sierra Leone.

 

In the 2018 presidential elections, he performed admirably given the resources. With a message of anti-corruption, energy reform, and inclusive growth, he captured the imagination of many. Though he secured only about five percent of the vote, he left a strong impression. His presence in the race forced a rethink among political elites.

 

But the momentum of the NGC quickly faded. The structure was weak, the finances unreliable and internal wrangling became the norm. As time passed, the party lost visibility. Its leader grew more distant. By the 2023 elections, the NGC had lost much of its early excitement. Its founding principles were diluted. Its founder’s focus had shifted.

 

Then came the political twist of 2024. Dr. Kandeh Yumkella returned to the SLPP, the very party he had declared morally bankrupt. He framed his return as a patriotic move. A contribution to national unity. He said he wanted to strengthen the progressive wing of the SLPP. But many SLPP members and supporters saw it as something else — a calculated move to position himself for the 2028 presidential flag bearer race.

 

To make matters more unsettling, Yumkella’s media interviews were laced with deliberate ambiguity. When asked during an interview on AYV Television if he intended to contest for the presidency in 2028, he replied:

 

> “It is up to the President and the Party.”

 

This response did not sound like humility. It sounded like the groundwork of a backdoor deal. A quiet nod to internal negotiations already underway. That statement has set alarm bells ringing across SLPP circles. Many believe President Julius Maada Bio may be considering handing the political baton to Yumkella in what some see as an elite pact. If so, this raises a critical question. Will the SLPP uphold its constitutional clause or abandon it for political convenience?

 

The implications are profound. If the party sets aside its own rule to accommodate Yumkella, it would be betraying those who remained loyal during opposition years. The grassroots. The foot soldiers. The elders who stood firm during the toughest times. They would be watching as a former dissenter is fast-tracked past them, ignoring years of loyalty and sacrifice.

 

There are other leaders in the SLPP who meet the criteria. Men and women who never wavered. Who defended the party in tough times. Who built its structures and protected its legacy. Are they now to be pushed aside to favour a man who once rejected everything the party stood for?

 

Some argue that Yumkella’s international experience and intellectual presence could boost the SLPP’s global image. That he speaks the language of diplomacy. That he commands respect abroad. But this cannot be the reason to violate a constitution. If the party starts cherry-picking which rules to follow, it has already begun to lose its moral compass.

 

The problem is not Dr. Yumkella’s intellect. He is well-read and highly accomplished. His record at the UN, particularly in energy and sustainable development, speaks for itself. But party leadership is more than a CV. It is built on trust, endurance and continuity. The SLPP must ask itself: is it worth sacrificing principle for personality?

 

The clause is not meant to stifle ambition. It is meant to uphold discipline and filter commitment. If Yumkella is genuinely committed, let him serve, wait, and earn his stripes over time. Let him go through the hard years. Let him prove his loyalty, not just his eloquence.

 

Because history matters. Actions matter. And those who built the house deserve to live in it before visitors are handed the keys.

 

What They’re Saying About DR. KANDEH YUMKELLA

Compiled by Augustine Gbla

 

> “We have no issue with Dr. Yumkella as a Sierra Leonean. He is brilliant, no doubt. But leadership in the SLPP is not just about brilliance. It is about loyalty, patience and sacrifice.”

— A Senior Party Elder

 

> “We carried the party when it had no money or power. We suffered in silence. Dr. Yumkella is too quick to jump when things don’t go his way. He is not grounded in the SLPP family spirit.”

— Veteran Member of the Women’s Wing.

 

> “The clause is there for a reason. If we ignore it for Yumkella, then anyone can walk in and demand leadership. That is chaos, not democracy.”

— Former Delegate and Grassroots Mobiliser

 

> “I admire Dr. Yumkella’s intellect. He speaks the truth and is not afraid to call out corruption. But if he left once, he could leave again. He should prove himself within the party first.”

— Isata Kamara, Political Science Student

 

> “Yumkella is different. He’s modern. He speaks well. The world respects him. If we want to win the future, we must think beyond just old loyalties.”

— Ibrahim Conteh, Young Generation Member

 

> “He said the party was broken. So why come back now? That’s confusing for young voters who believed in his third force.”

— Zainab Bah, University Student Leader

 

Let us be clear.

 

The clause is not the problem.

 

The ambition to override it is.

 

— Augustine Gbla