He was leader of the All People's Congress (APC) from 1996 until 2002. He contested the 1996 national election for president, but lost the election after gaining just 5.1% of the first round of voting, good enough for fifth place. He was then Minority Leader of the House of Parliament from 1996 to 2002. Ernest Bai Koroma since took over as parliamentary leader and presidential candidate of the APC, beginning in 2002. On September 25, 2007, when the members of parliament were sworn in, Turay was appointed as leader of the Majority Party, in which position he was also Leader of Government Business.