Monrovia – Internal wrangling within the Student Unification Party (SUP), the student-based political party of the University of Liberia is hampering activities on the university’s Capitol Campus.
There has been no truce brokered as the saga continues for almost a week.
On August 29, majority members of the Central Committee of SUP expelled Chairman Carlos Tingban Edison for “gross breach of party constitution and acts that are sinister, ill-disposed and counter-productive to the norms, tradition and constitution of the party”.
The party’s central committee is the highest decision-making body and officials elected during Congress serve for only two semesters.
The expelled SUP Chairman has spent two semesters but has refused to honor decision to take the party to General Congress.
According to reports, Edison has more courses to complete before he can be certified by the University of Liberia for graduation.
Members of the Central Committee are worried that Edison could spend two more semesters something they say violates the party’s norms and constitution.
The Central Committee has mandated the party’s co-chair Mohammed Deybgbo to lead the party to its congress in 30 days.
Supporters of the expelled SUP Chairman have accused members of the Central Committee of being supported by the government but the Co-Chair has denied the claims.
“The decision remains uncompromising; we have come with the mandate to restore the sanity of our party. For too long people think that our party is a money generating entity for them,” said SUP Co-Chair for Party Affairs.
Deybgbo accused supporters of the expelled chairman of hiring bringing thugs to besiege the Capitol Hill campus and cause chaos.
“In the absence of the General Congress, the constitution gives the Central Committee the absolute power to expel, suspend or impeach. We will make the constitution available to you guys so you can know,” Deybgbo said.
“I have not come to perpetuate myself to power… we have already instituted congress preparatory committee, and we can say clearly that activities leading to the general congress are on course.”