Monrovia-In preparation for the pending 2017 general and presidential elections, the ruling Unity Party heads to convention beginning July 7 in the central city of Gbarnga, in Bong County. The party is going into the process at a time it is believed that there is rift between senior party officials-with incumbent Chairman Varney Sherman and President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said to be at odds.
A recent effort to have Cllr. Sherman face investigation for his alleged role in a reported bribery saga as revealed by international watchdog group Global Witness took a political trend when some partisans of the Unity Party barricaded the home of their party Chairman preventing his arrest.
Some UP partisans expressed that President Sirleaf was using the alleged corruption saga to bring Cllr. Sherman with whom she has had sour relationship to pubic disgrace.
Several partisans including Speaker Alex Tyler, Representative Moses Kollie, and others who left from the party blamed the lack of consultation and proper coordination by the hierarchy including President Sirleaf as some of the reasons for their departure and the ruling party has been experiencing in-house rift in recent years with some partisans loyal to Chairman Sherman and others to the President.
In the absence of convention President Sirleaf has since endorsed Vice President Joseph Boakai to succeed her but with a caution that the Vice President will have to fight for the presidency the same way she did.
President Sirleaf bluntly told FrontPageAfrica in a recent interview that anyone wishing to succeed her will have to lead their campaign and direct how they want to proceed at the same time welcoming democracy within the party.
It was not long when Dr. Toga G. McIntosh who has also enjoyed long close relationship with the President holding high profile positions in government-Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs, Minister of Foreign Affairs before he was nominated to represent Liberia at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) declared that he was putting up a challenge against Vice President Boakai for the party standard bearer position.
In declaring his intention, Dr. McIntosh disclosed that he discussed his ambition to become President with Madam Sirleaf several years ago and it is now time to realize his dream since Madam Sirleaf is no longer contesting the Presidency.
While some say Dr. McIntosh might not be able to beat Vice President Boakai for the standard bearer position, he remains confident that he can cause an upset once the delegates to the process are convinced and they can make the ultimate decision in his favor.
As far back as more than four months ago, Dr. McIntosh expressed that he is going into the process open-minded but will not relent to take decision such as sitting back when there is cheating.
Early objection
With the ruling party convention about two weeks away, Dr. McIntosh has expressed objection to the appointment of chair and co-chair of the elections subcommittee.
In a letter dated June 20, 2016, addressed to Cllr. Sherman, Chairman of the party, Dr. McIntosh expressed that the chair and co-chair have both endorsed Vice President Boakai in the past and as such their appointments to the position means they will not be impartial.
“I present my compliments and would like to officially tender my objection to the appointment of the Chair and Co-Chair of the Elections Sub-committee as constituted. We take note, with deep concern, the fact that both appointees have publicly demonstrated support for my competitor. Given the pivotal role both posts entails in the electoral process, it is our firm belief that their appointments leave much to be desired over the process”, Dr. McIntosh stated in the letter.
Dr. McIntosh expressed fear that the Chair and Co-Chair will not be impartial during the convention.
Stated Dr. McIntosh “Consistent with universally accepted principle, membership of any electoral Committee must strike the delicate balance of exercising their franchise rights while remaining impartial when exercising its duties and mandate. By endorsing a particular contestant, for all intent and purpose, the core values and principals of impartiality are defeated and the issue of fairness called into question instantly thereby compromising the process”.
He reiterated his early position that he will honor the outcome of the process only if it is conducted in a transparent manner.
“From the incept of my announcement to contest as Standard Bearer for our Great Unity Party, I have repeatedly stated that we will honor any outcome of the electoral process provided it is conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner. However, I have also indicated, that should the process at any point be compromised, as inferred in our current concern, and when not adequately and judiciously addressed, we reserve the right to take appropriate measures that uphold our integrity and moral values”, Dr. McIntosh warned.
Rectify situation
Dr. McIntosh indicated in the letter that he is demanding that the situation be rectified before the convention.
“therefore, in light of the concern raised above and in the interest of credibility, fairness, and legitimacy of the electoral process, we kindly request your timely intervention in rectifying the situation”, Dr. McIntosh noted.
Difficult task at hand
Dr. McIntosh might have a difficult situation on hand as several high ranking officials of the party including party Chairman, Cllr. Sherman to whom he is complaining has already declared their support to Vice President Boakai even before convention within the party.
Several months ago, Cllr. Sherman openly expressed support for the candidacy of Vice President Boakai when he promised that he (Cllr. Sherman) will work to ensure that the Vice President becomes the next President of Liberia.
The pending convention of the party could be an event to watch given the ongoing rigmarole within the hierarchy of the party, where Cllr. Sherman is getting the support of some partisans and others not in support.
Vice President Boakai is believed to be a candidate of Cllr. Sherman which could make other partisans not in favor of Cllr. Sherman to vote against the Vice President.
With less than two years in power the morale that once greeted activities of the ruling party years back look to have diminished greatly especially due to the number of senior partisans that have left the party to date.
Speaker Tyler, Margibi County Senator Oscar Cooper, representative Kollie, are amongst some of the top officials to deflect from the party.
Political pundits believe that the old political history of Liberia where ruling parties go down the drain after their tenure in power is slowly creeping into the Unity Party as the party may not repeat the feat of the 2005 and 2011 elections.
Henry Karmo, [email protected]