MONROVIA – Alexander Cummings is weighing the biggest decision of his presidential ambition so far, and people close to the process tell FrontPageAfrica that the standard bearer of the Alternative National Congress (ANC) and the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) is believed to have now begun to narrow his personal shortlist of potential running mates to a handful of former senators and officials of government.
By Selma Lomax, [email protected]
In recent days, Cummings’ allies and others close to the running mate vetting process, said former Grand Bassa County Senator, Gbehzohngar Findley, has gained real traction in the late stage of the search, while former Bong County Senator Henry Yallah is also believed to be among the most serious contenders. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Deputy Representative of the UN Secretary General in South Sudan is also on his radar.
Findley is ‘being considered by Cummings’
The former Grand Bassa County’s Senator new emergence as one of the top contenders has been propelled by intensive lobbying on his behalf by some of his “friends” closer to Cummings, FrontPageAfrica gathered.
They’ve reached out to members of Cummings’ inner circle in recent days, making an impassioned case for why Findley should not be overlooked in the search process.
His backers have painted him as a liked and respected person not only in his native county but the entire country, a team player with experience working as a former senator with a compelling biography rooted in humble beginnings and notably, a safe political choice who would not rock the boat.
“Everybody in ANC likes Findley. When you’ve been senator of one of the populous counties, I think he is stronger than people think,” one supporter of Cummings told FrontPageAfrica.
With Findley contesting as a senator in the pending October legislative election in Grand Bassa County, it’s unlikely he will accept Cummings’ offer. A source closer to Findley told FrontPageAfrica Tuesday that the former Senate Pro Tempore feels contesting as Senator is the “realistic chance” he has returning to the Capitol Building rather than accepting to go as a running mate to Cummings.
“He may agree to support Alexander Cummings’ presidential bid, but I’m not sure he will accept to go as a running mate,” the source said of Findley. “He has gone to far with his campaign to relinquish his ambition for a running mate slot.”
Yallah ‘also on Cummings’ radar’
There are other considerations aside from Findley that the Cummings camp are whispering about — former Bong County Senator Henry Yallah, FrontPageAfrica has gathered.
One adviser to Cummings who was asked for his assessments about several running mate candidates said Yallah’s name is being heavily considered if Findley rejects Cummings’ offer.
“Yes, we might settle for Henry Yallah. We are in discussions with him,” the adviser said.
In Yallah, Cummings, according to political pundits, would be making a good choice considering the the massive support he garnered in the 2020 senatorial election in Bong County when he finished second to eventual winner, Prince Moye of Unity Party, with over 25,000 votes.
Yallah has maintained a strong presence in the political scene in Bong County even before he was elected senator in 2011. The former president of the Bong County Students Union (BONSU) had contested for representative of electoral District Three in 2005 and lost by 100 votes to George Mulbah, who won as representative.
Even before his name began to surface as a potential running mate to Cummings, Yallah has already accepted to work with the ANC ahead of the presidential elections, months after he parted ways with the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC).
Asked if he was aware about being considered as a running mate to Cummings, Yallah replied: “I’m not desperate to be a running mate to Cummings. I have already begun mobilizing my team around the county to ensure Cummings becomes the next president. So, running mate or not running mate, I’m prepared to give it my all for the ANC.”
If Cummings picks Yallah as running mate, the scramble for Bong, the third most populous county according to the 2008 National Census, might heighten because of the presence of CDC’s Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor, also a native of Bong County.
Sara Beysolow Nyanti
Ms. Nyanti is well-credentialed but is relatively known in the body-politics of Liberia.
Ms. Nyanti is a highly experienced development and humanitarian professional with over 20 years of experience. She has worked for the United Nations in several countries, holding leadership positions in Jordan, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, the Gambia, and Yemen.
Currently, she serves as the Deputy Representative of the UN Secretary-General in South Sudan.
During her tenure with UNICEF in Yemen, she led the establishment of cash assistance programs for nine million people. Prior to joining the United Nations, Ms. Nyanti was the Director of the National AIDS Control Program in her home country of Liberia. She played a critical role in securing funding for Liberia’s national AIDS response and was instrumental in developing the country’s AIDS policy, guidelines, and legislation. Ms. Nyanti’s extensive experience in development and humanitarian work makes her well-suited for leadership positions in the field.