Monrovia – The Liberia Holding Consortium has presented the results of its second opinion poll designed purposely to provide information on citizens’ perception of the issues confronting Liberians and their prospects for Elections 2017, with respondents on the whole presenting negative responses on government.
These results, according to Liberia Holding Consortium Principal Kamara Abdullai Kamara, represent a survey conducted in 19 centers in eight of Liberia’s 15 counties while the geography considered the North, South, Central, West and East of Liberia.
“Respondents on the overall think of government response to their concerns in a rather negative way.”
“Out of a total of 378 impressions made about the government, 210 think negatively, while 168 think positively.”
“This is from the fact that several respondents shared their impression as being mixed,” Kamara said in the report.
Kamara, in a document presented to FrontPageAfrica, registered that there was economic considerations for the localities included concession areas, commercial activities, academic environment, peri-urban and rural communities during the poll.
The survey was said to be conducted over a three-week period between late May and mid June 2017.
It reflects the general perception of what registered Liberian voters think about the pending elections in Liberia and the issues they are concerned with.
There are more than 4.7 million Liberians, spread across 15 counties.
The number of registered voters, as per the National Elections Commission’s (NEC) 2014 senatorial elections was 1,903,229 which the opinion poll was said to have taken into consideration.
“Specifically, 484 separate responses were processed from 19 population centers in eight counties.”
“As much as possible, we attempted to ensure respondents as a proportion to the number of registered voters from the last electoral exercise. However, it is generally accepted as the disparity is not so wide as to disrupt the results,”Kamara stated in the report.
Education, health, roads, jobs and agriculture were named as widespread expectation respondents hope future governments would give key attention to.
Of the 464 respondents, the report note that 329 argue that divisions based on the candidates’ status as a country or congau descent will not make a determination on their vote, as opposed to 128 who said their choices will be affected by ethnic divide.
“We maintain concern here because tribal tones have laid the ground work for conflict in many parts of the continent. While no tribal group has the kind of domineering majority in Liberia, an argument for or against any one group could raise a sad scenario. Note should be made of the civil war which had significant tribal footnotes,” Kamara said.
Since the survey was county based and did not seek responses within specific electoral districts, the report said choices for legislative candidates were not properly defined, however on the basis of electoral districts cutting across administrative or residential districts with some names appearing beyond their known districts.
A total of 97 possible contenders, including 9 females, were suggested by respondents.
This, according to Kamara was because some respondents contacted in commercial or concessional areas provided responses that were away from their domicile, which are beyond areas that they are registered to vote.
Notwithstanding, the survey results showed some candidates in very widespread ways that suggest their preference for the legislature.
Key among the aspirants reflected were in Nimba where 13 of the 75 respondents were undecided about legislative choices.
Key amongst names highlighted during the survey show Dorwon Gleekia and Chris Toe from the Tappita area, Jeremiah Koung, Samuel Brown and Lawrence Suah in Ganta while respondents form the Saclepea/Bahn area showed Larry Younquoi and Jeremiah Koung.
Also from Bong County, the Opinion Poll said Supt Selena Mappy is shown far ahead of the pack in the lower Bong area, while Incumbent George Mulbah is seen in a tight match with Orlando Zarwolo and Edward Gboe in the Gbarnga area, something that indicates a repeat of polls conducted in May 2017.
Conversely, the Liberia Holding Consortium survey maintained that there was a shift in responses from Zwedru, which showed incumbent Zoe E Pennue, followed by Madison Gwion and Jeremiah Sokan.
At the same time, the Kakata side of Margibi, repeated that respondents favored incumbent Ben Fofana and Prince Wreh, followed by Francis Cooper, while the Harbel side showed incumbent Ballah Zayzay.
Also from the Grand Bassa Compound 1 area, Isaac Ross is closely following Incumbent Hans Barchue, while in the Buchanan area responses repeated a near unanimous show of support for Matthew Joe, the survey stated.
Montserrado shows a difference from other counties in the report with a huge flow of undecided respondents, for the legislature, as reflected by a combined 95 out of 179 respondents.
Despite this anomaly, the Bushrod Island belt shows repeat contenders as incumbent Abraham Vamuyan Corneh and Robert Teah, joined by Incumbent William Dakel while incumbent Richmond Anderson and Saah Joseph continue to lead the pack along the freeway.
The Central Monrovia was said to have feature incumbent Acarous Gray leading a crowded field of 7, while Sinkor shows Fubbi Henries and incumbent Munah Pelham in a tight race with Paynesville giving widely indecisive responses whereas Bomi showed near equal responses of indecision and support for Rep. Edwin Snowe.
“Foya in Lofa repeated preference for newly elected Francis Nyumalin, while the Zorzor preferences showed Beyan Howard, as well as a repeat show for Alexander Gargue, Nathaniel Mulbah, and Edmond Johnson.
Responses in Voinjama shifted with a show of support for incumbent Mariamu Fofana at the lead of a team, which repeated Ruth Kpadeh,” the survey concluded.
In the same vein, it was observed in the polls that for the person best suited for the Liberian vice presidency are generally undecided.
In the wake of huge number of respondents being undecided, 74 respondents named the running mate for the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), Bong County Senator Jewel Howard Taylor as an appropriate Vice President while others cited on this list are Harrison Karnwea, who hails from Nimba, Internal Affairs Minister Henrique Tokpa, who lost a heavily contested Bong Senate seat to Senator Jewel Taylor, Jeremiah Sulunteh, who served as Liberia’s Ambassador to the USA, and running mate to Alternative National Congress’ Alexander Cummings and Prince Johnson as preferred candidates.
Meanwhile, the survey utilized eight candidates which include Vice President Joseph Boakai of the Unity Party; Senator George Weah of the Coalition for Democratic Change; Charles Brumskine of Liberty Party; and Benoni Urey of All Liberian Party.
Others were Alexander Cummings of the Alternative National Congress; Joseph Mills Jones of the Movement for Economic Empowerment, Prince Johnson of the Movement for Development and Reconstruction and Macdella Cooper of Union of Liberian Democrats.
Of the overall respondents’ Vice President Joseph Boakai received 176 of 484 perceptions, as the best suited for President in 2017, representing 36.36%, up from 29.45% in May Alexander Cummings following the list.
Meanwhile, the report said the Code of Conduct may create changes and shifts in choices for presidential candidates and running mates.
“With 13.01% of respondents having no choice up to now, there is still a possibility of a significant shift in the preference for candidates. Perhaps, the choices of those still undecided could be fashioned by the choices of running mates, appreciation of the code of conduct, and the platforms put forth by the parties.
Otherwise, what the candidates will say during the campaigns –especially at the organized debates.”
“We are informed that there will be 3 debates hosted at different locations, and involving a mix of candidates. “
“Given the current responses, there is still a likelihood for the second round of voting. “
“The numbers show the two parties poised for the second round as the ruling Unity Party led by Vice President Joseph Boakai and the Coalition for Democratic Change led by Senator George Weah,” Kamara stated in the survey.
Kamara in the meantime noted that the report is not a full conclusion of the survey by the Liberia Holding Consortium on the pending elections, but is aimed at guiding aspirants.