A senior member of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), Mohamed Malaam Janneh, has strongly defended the membership of former Moyamba District Member of Parliament, Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally, amid questions over his standing within the governing party.

Janneh, who serves as a Chief Patron of the SLPP, made the remarks in a letter addressed to the party’s National Chairman in response to recent correspondence concerning Tarawally’s membership.

According to Janneh, Tarawally’s membership of the SLPP is “incontestable,” arguing that he remains a legally registered and fully paid-up Grand Chief Patron and Lifetime Delegate of the party.

He cited Tarawally’s participation in the SLPP’s most recent National Delegates Convention, held at the Bintumani Conference Centre from July 29 to 31, 2025, as evidence of his continued recognition by the party.

Janneh said Tarawally exercised his franchise at the convention in his capacity as a Lifetime Delegate and former Member of Parliament representing Moyamba District.

“You cannot invite a man to vote as a Lifetime Delegate at the highest decision-making body of the Party and then turn around to question his membership,” Janneh stated.

He further challenged the authority of the SLPP National Chairman to unilaterally suspend or revoke the membership of a Grand Chief Patron and Lifetime Delegate.

Referring to Article 8 of the SLPP Constitution, Janneh argued that matters relating to membership and discipline must follow the procedures established by the party, including consideration by the National Executive and relevant disciplinary structures.

Janneh, who said he has held various official positions within the SLPP since 1991, described the correspondence concerning Tarawally as an alleged attempt at political intimidation against long-serving party members who hold independent views.

He maintained that the SLPP should uphold tolerance and inclusion, rather than allow internal disagreements to undermine the rights of its members.

“Therefore, we treat that letter with the contempt it deserves,” Janneh stated, while insisting that Tarawally remains a “proud, committed, and fully paid-up member and Grand Chief Patron” of the SLPP.

Janneh also called on the National Chairman to focus on efforts to unite the party rather than issuing what he described as “unlawful letters.”

The letter was signed by Mohamed Malaam Janneh in his capacity as Chief Patron of the SLPP.