MONROVIA – Former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has urged Liberians to be conscious of who they vote for on December 8 when the country goes to the polls to elect 15 Senators and an eight-proposition referendum.
Madam Sirleaf in a tweet warned citizens to be mindful of the fact the fact that their previous vote got them where they are today.
She tweeted: “As Liberians vote in the by-election on Tuesday, they must be mindful that their vote is their future. Their previous vote has them where they are, their future vote for who they trust will take them where they want to be.”
Despite attending some meetings with the Unity Party – the political party that brought her to power for two terms (12 years) – the ex-president has refrained from meddling in Liberian politics.
According to her, her international engagements refrains her from being involved with politics.
Next Tuesday election is expected to see firebrand Abraham Darius Dillon the incumbent Senator of Montserrado County of the opposition Collaborating Political Parties and a fierce critic of the George Weah-led government retain his seat of being booted out just after a year.
His main contender, Thomas Fallah, has never lost an election since 2005 when he was first elected to House of Representatives to represent Montserrado County District 5. Rep. Fallah comes a one of the most populous districts in Montserrado County. Rep. Fallah and the governing Coalition for Democratic Change is bent on reclaiming Montserrado County – their stronghold – from the opposition.
Another crucial county is Grand Bassa County where former Minister of Foreign Affairs and a former President Pro-Tempore of the Liberian Senate is battling one of eight females in the entire race and the incumbent, Nyonblee Kangar Lawrence, for the seat.
Senator Lawrence assumed leadership of the opposition Liberty Party, a constituent member of the CPP, following the death of the founder, Cllr. Charles W. Brumskine.
While she has the backing of major political parties in the opposition block, Findley has the ruling Coalition giving him all the support.
In Nimba, the ruling Coalition decided to back Jeremiah Koung who is also the choice of the Senator Prince Y. Johnson who is considered as the godfather of the county.
The opposition CPP’s candidate is Madam Edith Gongloe-Weh, a former Superintendent of the county. Her name is also a household name in the county.
In Bomi, the incumbent Sando Johnson who is being supported by the CPP faces a tough battle against former Speaker J. Alex Tyler and Representative Edwin Snowe, a formidable independent candidate.
In Bong County, the President and the Vice President are at loggerheads as to who to support. Bong County is the stronghold of the National Patriotic Party (NPP) headed by Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor. The NPP is a member of the ruling Coalition, but the Vice President insists she cannot support the Coalition’s candidate in the race – Sen. Henry Yallah – the incumbent.
The deputy Speaker of the House, Prince Moye, is also contesting the seat.
Menikpake Dumoe is also making some headways mostly preaching his quest to have jailed ex-president Charles Taylor released from prison. Taylor is serving a 50-year sentence for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in neighboring Sierra Leone. His message is winning the admiration of mostly ex-fighters in the county.