The Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC) has presented a provisional certificate of registration to the Mohamed Bangura headed United Democratic Movement (UDM).

At a press briefing held at the UDM Headquarters in Freetown on Monday 30th May 2011, few minutes after the certificate was received by the movement, Interim Chairman Mohamed Bangura disclosed that the certificate marks the transformation of the movement to a political party in Sierra Leone.

Mohamed Bangura

Bangura said UDM will soon secure its final certificate from the PPRC, which will give the movement the full authority to start operation as a full-fledged political party.

According to him, UDM will soon embark on a regional tour to sensitize the general public on the rationale behind the formation of the party.

“The proposed tour will also serve as an opportunity to galvanize support and formally open our regional offices across the country,” Mohamed Bangura explained.

He used the forum as an opportunity to dispel rumours making the rounds that the UDM was being sponsored by the APC party. “We source funds from our members,” he pointed out, while stressing that UDM has no relationship whatsoever with the APC party.

While assuring that UDM will serve as a thorn in the flesh for all other political parties in the country in the forthcoming general elections, he confessed that their major target is not 2012.

“The dream of the UDM is to survive after 2012 by way of continuing to actively participate in the country’s political landscape,” Bangura said.

Mohamed Bangura used the forum as an opportunity to call on all Sierra Leoneans to join force with the UDM, as according to him, the answers to all political problems in Sierra Leone is UDM.

“This is time for youth and women to take their rightful position in politics in the country. Yes, we can, if we are together,” he ended.

Meanwhile, a significant crowd of supporters of the UDM earlier escorted Chairman Mohamed Bangura to the PPRC to collect the certificate.