Hon. Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella on Tuesday 15th August, 2023 announced his resignation from the National Grand Coalition (NGC), where he previously held the position of leader and 2018 presidential candidate.

The resignation of KKY is not unconnected with NGC’s alliance with his original political party, the governing Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) ahead of the 24th June, 2023 multitier elections.

While the KKY did not contest the June 24 elections as presidential candidate, the erstwhile UNIDO Director-General and other NGC members of the NGC/SLPP Progressive Alliance joined the presidential campaign of President Brig. (Rtd) Julius Maada Bio around the country.

With the resignation of KKY from the NGC which he struggled to form together with other Sierra Leoneans at home and abroad at the eleventh hour of the 2018 polls, there is growing speculation that the erudite politician and technocrat may be a potential candidate to lead the SLPP when the tenure of President Bio comes to an end in probably 2028.

While some SLPP stalwarts from the Southeast strongholds of the party are expressing keen interest in leading the party to the next presidential election, it is generally believed the next leader after President Bio will come from the North.