Blyden Weighs Presidential Bid, Deputy Chair, or Stepping Back

Senior All People’s Congress (APC) member Madam Sylvia Olayinka Blyden is currently weighing three key political paths ahead of the party’s 2026 National Delegates Conference, as announced in a New Year press statement on 1 January 2026. 

Her options include a potential bid for the APC’s 2028 presidential candidacy, contesting for the position of National Deputy Chairman for the 2026 to 2029 term, or stepping away from active leadership roles.

Madam Blyden, who holds the party’s highest membership status of Honorary Foundation Member, stated she would undertake extensive consultations before finalising her decision. Reflecting on the party’s recent electoral defeats in 2018 and 2023, she argued that the APC requires a fundamental strategic "paradigm shift" led by experienced political thinkers to recover lost ground. 

Citing over 25 years of service, including financing the party during challenging periods and providing strategic counsel, she asserted her qualifications for a senior leadership position. She emphasised that her ultimate choice would be guided by a commitment to serving the broader interests of Sierra Leone. 

Her statement significantly fuels the internal debate within the APC as it prepares for its upcoming internal elections and the 2028 general elections.