The strategic communications unit of the All Peoples Congress (APC) has issued a clarification regarding the recent handover of office keys by Hon. Chernor Maju Bah, widely known as Chericoco, to the National Secretary General of the party.

The move, which took place on October 10, 2024, has been widely misinterpreted by some party members as a resignation from the APC and his position as the former deputy leader.

In a statement, the unit emphasized that Hon. Chericoco has not resigned from the party, nor did he step down as the former deputy leader. The handover of his office was carried out in strict adherence to the APC’s 2022 Constitution.

Specifically, Section 47(iv) of the constitution mandates that if the leader or deputy leader of the party fails to win a presidential election, they must relinquish their positions within six months after the announcement of the election results by the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone.

The unit clarified that this constitutional rule remains in effect even if legal disputes or petitions are ongoing regarding the election outcome.

In compliance with this provision, Hon. Chericoco and Dr. Samura Kamara, who both contested in the 2023 presidential election, relinquished their leadership roles in December 2023 during a meeting of the National Advisory Council (NAC). Both leaders agreed to step down in order to avoid further court action against the party.

The October 10 handover of Hon. Chericoco’s office keys was part of this constitutional process and does not signal any departure from the party or a resignation from his duties.

The unit’s statement underscores the importance of upholding the party’s constitutional guidelines and dispels any misunderstandings regarding Hon. Chericoco’s role within the APC.

They called on all members to stay informed and follow official communications to avoid misinformation, particularly regarding internal party matters.