Gbarnga – A political rift within the Unity Party in Bong County is threatening to fracture the local leadership, as Superintendent Loleyah Hawa Norris faces mounting accusations of disloyalty and political sabotage targeting Senator Prince K. Moye — a senior party stalwart who played a pivotal role in President Joseph Boakai’s electoral victory in 2023.
By Selma Lomax [email protected]
The controversy was ignited by President Boakai’s recent gifting of a four-door pickup to Pastor James Paye, a well-known cleric in Gbarnga. According to multiple Unity Party sources, the gesture was reportedly brokered by Superintendent Norris, who has a long-standing personal relationship with both Paye and the President.
While the donation was officially described as a token of appreciation, critics within the party are calling it a political misstep that has alienated Unity Party loyalists.
Pastor Paye, they argue, was a vocal supporter of the former ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) during the last presidential elections and has longstanding ties to ex-Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor.
“This was not just a gift,” said one senior Unity Party insider. “It was a betrayal. People who worked and campaigned day and night for President Boakai feel insulted that someone aligned with our opponents is being rewarded at their expense.”
According to insiders, Norris introduced Paye to President Boakai shortly before her overseas travel and reportedly misrepresented the pastor’s political alignment, claiming he had campaigned for the Unity Party. Based on this account, the President awarded the vehicle as a token of gratitude.
Sources allege that Superintendent Norris, leveraging her personal connection to the President dating back to their days at the YMCA, has reportedly her influence to sideline allies of Senator Moye from local leadership positions.
Multiple local officials and Unity Party operatives describe the current climate in Bong as one of internal “purging,” with Norris reportedly vowing to root out Senator Moye’s influence from key administrative roles.
“She’s running the county like it’s her personal fiefdom,” said one local government employee. “Anyone connected to Moye is viewed as an enemy.”
Unity Party members say that rather than building cohesion after the elections, Superintendent Norris has acted in ways tthat are ffragmenting he party’s base — particularly in a county seen as critical to Boakai’s political stronghold.
Critics suggest that Superintendent Norris is reportedly using her current post to build a personal political base, allegedly in preparation for a possible 2029 legislative run. Some accuse her of aligning with CDC-leaning actors to broaden her appeal across political lines.
The backlash has been especially fierce among pro-Unity Party pastors, many of whom invested significant personal resources during the 2023 campaign. They now feel neglected while Pastor Paye, who used his pulpit to promote the CDC, is being rewarded.
The controversy escalated further after Pastor Paye took to his Gbarnga-based radio station to thank President Boakai and boast about his longstanding personal connection to the President. While expressing gratitude for the pickup, he also issued thinly veiled criticisms at Senator Moye.
In one pointed remark, Paye said, “People who fight their father can’t succeed,” a line many interpreted as a direct jab at the senator. He accused Moye of dividing the county’s legislative caucus and suggested that any ambition Moye may harbor for higher office would be thwarted unless he “apologizes” for past political conflicts.
These remarks are seen by many in the Unity Party as being endorsed — if not orchestrated — by Superintendent Norris, whose alliance with Paye has raised concern. Party members recall an earlier episode in which Norris awarded Paye’s business, Success Business Center, a fencing contract valued at over US$100,000 for the county administration compound—further fueling suspicions of political favoritism.
Amid the uproar, Unity Party grassroots figures are urging the national leadership to intervene. Some are now petitioning the party’s Executive Committee to launch an investigation into Norris’ conduct, accusing her of undermining the party from within and handing strategic influence to individuals with ties to the opposition.
“If we allow this behavior to go unchecked, we risk weakening the party in one of its most important counties,” warned one Bong County district chair. “Superintendent Norris may be loyal to the President personally, but her actions are hurting the party politically.”
Senator Moye, for his part, has yet to publicly respond to the controversy. However, his silence is viewed by some as a strategic move, with insiders suggesting he may be weighing how best to address what has now become a politically charged and deeply personal conflict.
Meanwhile, Superintendent Norris, who was reportedly out of the country at the time of publication, could not be reached for comment. Her phone remained switched off.
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