CDP leaders deny Musa Tarawally remains party member

Regional Chairmen of the Citizens Democratic Party (CDP) and former chairman Gibril Tula have rejected claims that former presidential candidate Musa Tarawally remains a member of the party. The dispute arose after the CDP Secretary General, Ibrahim Sorie Sesay, reportedly informed the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) that Tarawally is still registered with the CDP.

Regional leaders and Tula assert that Tarawally resigned from the CDP on June 15, 2018, following the first round of the presidential election. Tula stated that Tarawally’s decision to support SLPP candidate Julius Maada Bio during the runoff caused internal divisions, leading to Tarawally’s suspension and subsequent resignation.

Tarawally has denied the CDP’s position, maintaining that he formally resigned in 2018 and has since been an SLPP member, citing membership payment records as evidence. The SLPP has since directed Tarawally to stop presenting himself as a party member or flagbearer aspirant.