The All People’s Congress (APC) has unveiled new and highly stringent eligibility guidelines for aspirants seeking the party’s presidential flagbearership ahead of the 2028 polls.

According to political observers, this move could significantly reduce the number of qualified flagbearer aspirants.
According to a document recently issued by the party, aspirants must secure a minimum overall score of 70% in a comprehensive vetting process with no individual assessment category falling below 50%.

The APC hierarchy said the rules were deliberately designed to ensure that only candidates deemed competent, ethical and electorally viable emerge as the party’s standard-bearer.
The document states that the vetting framework was adopted in response to intense intra-party competition and the party’s determination not to lose the 2028 polls.

Under the guidelines, the vetting exercise will last for three days and will be conducted at the APC Headquarters in Freetown. The process will be overseen by a vetting committee chaired by the National Chairman to submit a formal letter of interest along with a detailed curriculum vitae, personal and educational background, employment history, and evidence of public service. Aspirants must also demonstrate at least five consecutive years of uninterrupted membership in the APC and must not have defected to another political party during that period.

The second and third phases also require rigorous vetting exercises, including background checks, formal interview to assess leadership capacity and strategic thinking, among others.

Any aspirant dissatisfied with the vetting outcome will have the right to appeal within three days to the Independent Elections Complaint Body, which is expected to resolve such matters within seven (7) days, according to the APC.
The APC leadership maintains that the overriding objective of the new rules is electability.