Ady Macauley, aspirant for the All People’s Congress (APC) flagbearer position, has condemned the arrest and detention of APC Secretary General Lansana Dumbuya, describing it as a direct attack on freedom of speech and a worrying restriction of democratic political space.

In a statement, Macauley said the detention over Dumbuya’s remarks, in which he referred to President Julius Maada Bio as “Tiffy Tiffy Jankoliko,” undermines the principles of democracy. “In a democracy, dissent is not a crime, and criticism of leaders must never be punished. Silencing opposition voices erodes public trust in governance and undermines the rule of law,” he said.

Macauley added that the APC will no longer tolerate intimidation or bullying of its members. “One thing is very clear: the APC will never again roll over and give in in the face of intimidation. At this point, we must all be resolved and say this is the point of FULL STOP,” he emphasized.

The statement reflects growing concerns among opposition figures over freedom of expression and political space in Sierra Leone, highlighting tensions between government authorities and opposition parties.