Words spoken by those who stand at the centre of political power are never empty. They can reassure a nation or unsettle it; strengthen democracy or deepen suspicion. This is why the repeated reference to “2028 or 2030 elections” by Moses Mambu, National Public Relations Officer of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party, cannot simply be dismissed as humour, political entertainment or an innocent slip of the tongue. It was a reckless political pronouncement that struck directly at public confidence in Sierra Leone’s democratic future.
Moses Mambu is not an ordinary party supporter speaking casually at a gathering. He is the chief public spokesperson of the SLPP, the party controlling the Government. His statements will naturally be examined for clues about the thinking, intentions and possible direction of the ruling establishment. Mentioning 2030 repeatedly during his appearances on SLIK and Liberty Online TVs therefore created the disturbing impression that some elements within the SLPP may be quietly testing public reaction to a possible extension of the Government’s tenure beyond 2028.
Sierra Leone’s next presidential and parliamentary elections are generally expected in 2028. Any suggestion of 2030 is bound to provoke serious questions, particularly at a time when the country is debating constitutional amendments and confronting speculation about a possible seven-year presidential term. Against this sensitive political background, Moses Mambu’s statement was not only careless; it was inflammatory and damaging to national cohesion.
There is presently no credible evidence that the Government or SLPP has formally resolved to postpone the elections. That fact must be clearly acknowledged. However, politics is shaped not only by official resolutions but also by signals, language and public perception. When the National Public Relations Officer of the governing party repeatedly introduces 2030 into a discussion about elections, citizens have every right to ask whether the statement was a mistake, a political trial balloon or an attempt to prepare the country psychologically for a “More Time” agenda.
Moses Mambu reportedly compounded the controversy by referring to former President Ernest Bai Koroma of the All People’s Congress, whose tenure extended beyond the initial electoral timetable during the Ebola crisis. That comparison is dangerously misleading. Ebola was a devastating national emergency that killed thousands, disrupted communities, weakened institutions and made normal electoral activities extremely difficult. It was not a convenient political arrangement manufactured to keep a Government in office. Invoking that tragedy to rationalize contemporary talk about 2030 trivializes the suffering Sierra Leone endured.
After widespread condemnation across social media, Moses Mambu appeared to make an embarrassing retreat during an interview with Lamrana Bah of Truth Media on August 27, 2026. Asked whether he was advancing a 2030 agenda to extend his own relevance within the SLPP, he described the controversy as “political basketball.” He suggested that when people become excessively focused on one issue, politicians may divert their attention towards something else.
That explanation is deeply troubling. Election dates are not toys for political diversion. The constitutional future of Sierra Leone cannot be reduced to a gimmick designed to confuse citizens, dominate social media discussions or distract attention from uncomfortable national questions. Calling the statement “fun,” an “aside” or a “political jab” after public outrage does not repair the damage. It instead reveals a disturbing lack of appreciation for the responsibilities attached to his office.
Even more unsatisfactory was Moses Mambu’s refusal to affirm that elections would be conducted in 2028, arguing that he lacked the constitutional authority to decide. Although technically correct, that was politically evasive. He was not being asked to set an election date; he was being invited to reassure the nation that his party respects the existing constitutional timetable.
The SLPP leadership must now speak clearly and decisively. It should tell Sierra Leoneans whether it remains committed to elections in 2028. Silence, ambiguity and political wordplay will only strengthen suspicion. Sierra Leone’s hard-earned peace and democracy demand responsible leadership. Election is a constitutional obligation not a political basketball.
