𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐄𝐅 𝐒𝐀𝐌 𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐀’𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐀𝐌𝐁𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐄𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐓𝐔𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐇𝐔𝐑𝐃𝐋𝐄𝐒: 𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐋 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐃𝐄𝐁𝐀𝐓𝐄

BY ALISIOUS KONGO 
Former Vice President Chief Samuel Sam-Sumana’s press conference, where he accused the All People’s Congress (APC) of unfair treatment and threatened to take the party before the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC), has triggered fresh political debate.

On Liberty Online TV’s Breakfast Show, two lawyers—Claude Israel Williams Esq, a private practitioner, and Abdul Karim Kamara Esq, a member of the APC communications team—shared opposing views on whether the party’s constitution hinders or protects Sam-Sumana’s ambitions.

Israel Williams said he had studied the APC constitution for the first time and was amazed by its provisions, especially Articles 9 and 10 on membership and registration. He explained that “you can’t be a member without first accepting the dictates of the constitution,” noting that “payment of dues only follows after an application has been accepted.” Referring to Article 56, he pointed out that continuous membership is key, but the intention of the drafters must be considered. He asked, “Does this apply even to someone who once held the office of Vice President?”

Williams further explained that issues like resignation, expulsion, reinstatement, and forfeiture of membership are clearly laid out, and his focus was to create awareness of how the constitution connects with Sam-Sumana’s situation. He concluded that “the constitution itself provides avenues to resolve such disputes.”

Abdul Karim Kamara, however, argued that the matter was not simply about constitutional interpretation but about party loyalty and discipline. He said, “Many people feel there is disrespect from Sam-Sumana despite his past service to the party.” Kamara stressed that “Sam-Sumana was not a member when the constitution was drafted, and once someone leaves, they must return as a new member.” He added, “No matter your past titles, the moment you leave, you will be treated as a novice.”

Kamara accused Sam-Sumana of attempting to shift the party’s ideology, saying, “He doesn’t have a case but only seeks to create internal rancor. If he truly wants to die APC, he should not wash our dirty linens in public.”

The debate highlighted two perspectives: Williams grounding his argument in constitutional interpretation, and Kamara insisting on loyalty and institutional authority. Whether Sam-Sumana’s political ambition can survive within the APC may now depend on how both the party and the PPRC interpret the constitution.