Monrovia – The Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), a component of the tripartite Coalition for Democratic Change, has announced primaries for the 2017 Presidential and Legislative elections.
Report by Henry Karmo – [email protected]
The primary of the CDC, according to Mr. Janga A. Kowo, Secretary General of the CDC, is to fulfill its obligation of holding free, fair and democratic primaries within the framework of its National Constitution, the Coalition Agreement, as well as the election laws of the Republic of Liberia for the purpose of ensuring a credible process.
Those appointed to steer the affairs of the primaries include Jefferson T. Koijee, Chairman; Ronald K. Mendscole, Co-Chairman; Hassan Newland, Secretary General; Lewis Wright, Member; Maminah Carr, Member; and Edris Bility: Member, Mamensie Kaba, Member; Phil T. Dixon: Resource Person and Emmet Reeves, EX-Officio.
Kowo said: “We are pleased to announce the Primaries Steering Committee and the Guidelines.”
“These Committees and processes are internal to the Congress for Democratic Change in line with Article 7(g) of the Coalition Agreement, which states that parties to the coalition which have seats in the legislature shall reserve the right of nomination to the seat.
“In constituencies where coalition members don’t have seats, the candidates that provide the best option for victory shall be considered as the coalition nominees.”
The Congress for Democratic Change through its legislative elections steering committee has warned all legislative aspirants looking to participate in the upcoming party primaries to take note of the criteria which shall remain enforced as authorized eligibility guidelines an applicant must meet before his/her admission to legally participate.
At a news conference on Wednesday held at the party’s headquarters in Congo Town, Kowo said no person shall qualify to partake in the planned primaries unless such person is a proven member of the Congress for Democratic Change.
He further said that no person shall qualify to participate in the planned primaries of the CDC unless s/he is in ‘financial good standing’ with the party and has already fulfilled all the eligibility requirements set forth in the Constitution of Liberia, and the Electoral Reform Laws of 2004.
“No person shall qualify to participate in the planned primaries of the CDC unless he/she is a resident of the district in which he wishes to contest as defined by the Elections laws of Liberia.
“No person shall qualify to partake in the planned CDC primaries unless it’s established that such person has not already been registered as an Independent candidate; in the event where this dubious scenario is alleged as to create reasonable basis for suspicion, the accused will be denied participation subject only to an investigation; and additional steps may be taken to have the accused sign a waiver letter, which would be sent to the National Elections Commission and published in three local dailies denouncing any other registration.”
Kowo noted that people contesting the primaries should show record of publicly sharing and articulating the ideology and philosophies of the CDC and demonstrate that he or she clearly understands the objectives of the CDC and its constitution.
Forty Five Voting delegates will be drawn from each District across the country where CDC has Representation at the legislative level.
Of the 45 delegates, fifteen delegates will come from the District Executive Committee, Fifteen from the District Women League and Fifteen from the District Youth.
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