SLPP Issued Seven-Day Ultimatum Over Disputed Tarawally Expulsion
A formal legal dispute has emerged within the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) following actions taken by National Chairman Jimmy Batilo Songa regarding the membership status of Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally.
Legal counsel from Jengo, Sam & Partners, representing Tarawally, issued a seven-day ultimatum demanding the immediate retraction of a correspondence declaring Tarawally’s expulsion from the party. The firm alleges that the announcement involves defamation, cyberbullying, and procedural overreach.
The conflict follows a letter circulated on social media platforms on September 17, in which the Chairman’s office stated that Tarawally—an influential SLPP member and prospective 2028 presidential aspirant—was no longer affiliated with the organization. The document asserted that Tarawally held dual membership with the Citizens Democratic Party (CDP).
Tarawally’s legal representatives explicitly rejected the dual membership claim in a detailed response dated September 21. According to the law firm, Tarawally formally resigned from the CDP in 2018 prior to declaring his return to the SLPP during the presidential run-off election.
The response highlighted that Tarawally currently serves as a Grand Chief Patron and National Delegate in good standing.
The correspondence contends that the public release of the expulsion letter violates the SLPP Constitution, provisions of the Cyber Security and Crime Act 2021, and established regional human rights standards.
“The publication of this letter is defamatory, ultra vires, and a clear violation of our client’s rights,” the legal firm stated. “It was issued without any formal complaint, hearing, or disciplinary process, and therefore lacks any legal standing.”
Counsel further noted that distributing the letter online constitutes cyberbullying under Section 44 of the Cyber Security and Crime Act 2021, alongside actionable libel under Sierra Leonean common law.
The legal notice requires Chairman Songa to fulfill several conditions within the seven-day window, including:
Providing a written withdrawal of the expulsion notice;
Issuing public retractions across relevant social media platforms;
Ceasing all statements questioning Tarawally’s party standing;
Confirming in writing his status as a National Delegate and paid-up member; and
Committing to utilize standard constitutional organs for any future disciplinary proceedings.
Failure to adhere to the ultimatum will prompt legal action, including potential criminal complaints, civil libel suits in the High Court, and filings with regulatory and judicial bodies such as the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC), the National Electoral Commission (NEC), the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Boima JV Boima, spokesperson for Tarawally, stated that the action aims to uphold procedural integrity across the party structure, adding that Tarawally will continue to defend his constitutional rights within the SLPP.
As the seven-day period progresses, leadership responses will be closely observed for broader impacts on party unity and upcoming electoral preparations.
Comments