GBARNGA, Bong County – Representative Marvin Cole, Vice Chairman for Operations of the Citizens Movement for Change (CMC), is reportedly at odds with the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) over the party’s recent restructuring of its Bong County leadership.
By Selma Lomax, selma.lomaxfrontpageafricaonline.com
The CDC, which Cole represented until recently, named James Zuannah as County Chairman and Angie Kollie as County Chairlady, following the resignation of Sayblee Weyea in August.
Rep. Cole reportedly expressed concern that Zuannah’s elevation within the CDC could provide him with a political platform to challenge him in the 2029 legislative elections.
Sources familiar with internal discussions say Rep. Cole lobbied for his own allies — Emmanuel Weah and Jebbeh Goodlin — to be appointed instead. Both are said to be politically loyal to the lawmaker, who represents Jorquelleh District 3. The CDC rejected Rep. Cole’s recommendations and proceeded with its restructuring.
Following the announcement, Rep. Cole reportedly contacted Senator Nathaniel McGill, a senior CDC official, to express his dissatisfaction. According to sources, Senator McGill rebuffed him, saying, “Why are you concerned about what the CDC does in Bong County when you’re with another political party? No one serves two masters.”
Although Rep. Cole has formally joined the CMC, not all of his supporters have followed suit. Several long-time allies and aides have refused to leave the CDC, remaining loyal to the party despite pressure from Rep. Cole.
According to multiple sources, some of these individuals have faced retaliation. Prior to her appointment as CDC Chairlady, Angie Kollie was dismissed from Rep. Cole’s office reportedly for maintaining ties with Senator McGill and the CDC. His longtime Chief of Office Staff, Eldorado Kermue, was also suspended after refusing to join the CMC. Kermue had worked with Rep. Cole for over 15 years, including on the government-sponsored Madam Suakoko Scholarship Scheme.
Meanwhile, a number of CDC supporters who had previously distanced themselves from the party due to Rep. Cole’s controversial leadership during the 2023 elections have now vowed to return, citing his departure as a turning point.
“We stayed away from the CDC in 2023 because of Rep. Cole’s behavior,” one former partisan said. “Now that he’s no longer there, we’re going back to rebuild our party.”
At a recent Citizens Movement for Change event in Bong County attended by Rep. Cole, observers noted the presence of individuals wearing plain clothes who are known CDC supporters. Sources confirmed that several CDC partisans attended the event discreetly, avoiding party symbols out of fear of being identified and targeted by Rep. Cole’s loyalists.
“They came because they still support Rep. Cole personally, but they didn’t want to be seen,” one eyewitness said. “They wore no CDC shirts or hats. They didn’t want trouble.”
Rep. Cole has also come under scrutiny for his role in the CDC’s reduced performance in Bong County during the 2023 presidential elections. Though the CDC won the county in both rounds, the margin dropped from over 10,000 votes in the first round to just over 7,000 in the runoff.
Party insiders blame Rep. Cole for the drop in support, citing multiple incidents during the campaign season.
In one high-profile case, the representative reportedly ordered his supporters to assault a nurse in a town where she was allegedly hosting Unity Party members. The incident sparked a backlash among healthcare workers, many of whom were CDC loyalists. The nurses later staged a protest and warned they would withhold their support unless Rep. Cole apologized — a demand he refused.
In another widely reported case, Rep. Cole allegedly ordered the assault of a local pastor over a land dispute. He defended his actions, stating that the pastor had “challenged” him, despite his position as a sitting lawmaker.
These incidents, observers say, played a role in alienating key voter blocs and undermining the CDC’s performance, despite the party reportedly spending over US$1.5 million in Bong County during both rounds of the election.
With the 2029 legislative elections still years away, it remains unclear whether Rep. Cole can successfully build a new political base under the CMC. His recent clashes with the CDC, internal dismissals, and controversies may hinder his reelection chances.
Repeated efforts by FrontPageAfrica to contact Rep. Cole for comment were unsuccessful. His phone rang unanswered, and messages sent to him received no reply by press time.
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