Presidential nominee and flagbearer for the main opposition Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) in the forthcoming November 2012 elections has made an impassioned appeal to his party members last weekend of August 4th 2012 in the Southern city of Bo. Mr. Julius Maada Bio appealed to a gathering of numerous aspirants for SLPP symbols to contest for various elective positions to cultivate the spirit of gamesmanship by accepting the decision of SLPP Awards committee.

It can be recalled that following the contest for the position of flagbearer, many of the losers had become disgruntled with many of them even quitting the party in disgust at the tactics of the man (Bio) who was eventually chosen.

According to news reports, the fear of losing aspirants going the same way and seriously hindering the party’s chances is one of the biggest worries of Mr. Bio at the moment. In 2007, an earlier split in the SLPP over the choice of who should be flagbearer led to the party losing over 350,000 votes to rival parties in what used to be its strongholds in the South and East of the country.

Aspirants are reported to have assured the party that they will abide by the decision of the Awards committee so long as the final decisions are reached in a free and fair manner. The party has meanwhile stated that it will take no aspirant fee from youths and women seeking the party’s symbol.