By Sheriff Cole and Abu Bakarr Dumbuya
As political discussions continue within the All People’s Congress (APC) ahead of the 2028 general elections, party grassroots and loyalists have pointed to Hon. Chernor Ramadan Maju Bah, widely known as “Chericoco,” as one of the party’s most experienced leaders.
His supporters, like his critics, have acknowledged his long record of public service, parliamentary leadership, legal expertise, and humility.
Chericoco’s experience made him extraordinarily attractive, as the most recent Deputy National Leader of the APC, as evidence of his standing within the party and his readiness for higher national leadership.
Barrister and Solicitor, Chernor Ramadan Maju Bah has spent many years serving Sierra Leone in various capacities.
His political journey has seen him rise through some of the highest offices in Parliament, earning recognition from colleagues across the political divide.
He has also been bestowed with one of the highest honours in the country, although he has remained relatively quiet about his titles and achievements.
Throughout his career, he has been entrusted with responsibilities that require leadership, consensus-building, and a deep understanding of governance.
Among his most notable achievements is being selected twice as the APC’s Presidential Running Mate following approval by the party’s National Advisory Council (NAC), a distinction his supporters view as evidence of the confidence the party leadership has repeatedly placed in him.
Within Parliament, Hon. Bah has served as Acting Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and Leader of the Opposition.
These positions placed him at the centre of legislative debates and national decision-making during critical moments in Sierra Leone’s democratic development.
He has also represented Sierra Leone internationally as Leader of the country’s delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament on three occasions, providing him with valuable regional and diplomatic experience. He became the first opposition politician to occupy this position.
His legislative career extends beyond leadership positions. Hon. Bah has served as Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, where parliamentary oversight of public spending is a central responsibility.
He has also chaired the Mineral Resources Committee and the Legislative Committee, both of which play important roles in shaping national policy and strengthening governance.
In addition, he has been elected three times as a Member of Parliament representing a cosmopolitan constituency in the Western Area, reflecting sustained electoral support from his constituents. He has also served the APC at the regional level before rising to the position of Deputy National Leader of the party.
Outside Parliament, Hon. Bah is a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of Sierra Leone and has served as a member of the University Court of Sierra Leone, contributing to governance within the country’s higher education sector.
Hon. Bah believes that these experiences collectively demonstrate the qualities needed to lead both the APC and Sierra Leone at this material time.
Those who cannot defeat him on the strength of his record, his supporters argue, have instead resorted to tribal considerations. Yet, despite being a Fullah, Chericoco has built relationships with people from all tribes, regions, and beliefs. His supporters point to this broad network as evidence of his commitment to national unity and inclusiveness.
Chericoco is presented as a full package: a leader with a legal background, a strong parliamentary record, and extensive national and regional leadership experience.
His supporters believe he is fully prepared to guide the country through future challenges while promoting unity, accountability, democratic governance, and national harmony under a one-nation agenda.
As the APC prepares for the future, discussions about its next generation of leadership are expected to continue.
For many within the party, particularly at the grassroots level, Hon. Chernor Ramadan Maju Bah represents continuity, experience, and a vision centred on “One Salone, One Vision, One Destiny.”
If he ultimately becomes the party’s standard-bearer, his supporters believe the APC will have given Sierra Leoneans an option to “wu-teh-teh”—to vote en masse—for a candidate who has mastered the art of politics, governance, and leadership.
They argue that his experience spans the three traditional pillars of state leadership—the Executive, Judiciary, and Legislature—giving him a broad understanding of governance and public administration.
For his supporters, Chericoco stands out as one of the party’s most experienced and prepared leaders for the challenges ahead.