MONROVIA – The ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) is very optimistic about a one-round victory in this year’s election – something that is unprecedented in post-war Liberia.
Various actors within the CDC have been trumpeting this ambition both in the mass media and in other public gatherings.
By Lennart Dodoo, [email protected]
This week in West Point, the chairman of the CDC Youth League, Emmanuel M. Johnson iterated that, “Voter Perception Survey conducted by development partners with opinion polls show a massive first-round victory. We want to declare today that the CDC has won these elections and will take nothing less than a first-round victory in 2023”.
He added, “The Liberian people are resolved to sustaining the unprecedented development and leadership been exhibited by H.E George M. Weah and we will only be going to the ballot in October for the formality. We didn’t read about poverty; we live in poverty and all we were asking for is leadership and we have a better one! We can assure you there will be no second round. So, prepare your inauguration suit for January 2024”.
Commenting on the CDC’s statement, the Chairman of the Unity Party, Rev. J. Luther Tarpeh, questioned the CDC’s reliance for such an “unrealistic claim”.
He said, “It is only possible if they cheat and if they cheat, the Liberia people wouldn’t accept it. We need the country to be stable.”
At the same time, Daniel Sando of the Liberty Party who sides with Sen. Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence said the CDC is being delusional and is on a mere bluff. He said, “The CDC is simply being delusional especially so when they do not have anything to show that entitles them even an entry to second round. I think they are playing proverbial ostrich, burying their heads in the sand in an attempt to hide from danger.
For the ANC, Mulbah Yorbor who is the deputy chief of office staff to Alexander Cummings said, “It’s not only preposterous but shows how disconnected they are with the misery our people are facing daily. That statement is nothing short of ridiculous and outright mockery. They should hope to even be in a run-off election.”
However, the ruling party’s declaration of winning the presidential election in a single round may have originated from the distortion within the formidability of the opposition block. Pundits believe the opposition’s best bet was the Collaborating Political Parties that comprised the Unity Party, the All Liberian Party, the Liberty Party, and the Alternative National Congress.
This belief that a conglomerated opposition is the only upper hand the opposition could use can be linked to the massive success in the Montserrado senatorial by-election in 2019 and the special senatorial election in 2020 where the CPP won a majority of the senatorial seats and independent candidates performed better than the ruling CDC.
There is also an internal rift within the Liberty Party that is yet to be settled and this might affect the newly minted CPP comprising the Liberty Party and the Alternative National Congress’ performance in the election.
“Musa Bility may have control over the party and the executive committee, but Sen. Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence controls the voters,” an ardent member of the Liberty Party who asked for anonymity said.
However, even in the midst of the brouhaha in the opposition community, the CDC stands criticized by many Liberians for performing dismally and are calling for a change of leadership.
Peter Mulbah, an entrepreneur told FrontPageAfrica that “the CDC-led government has already convinced me that they are incompetent, why should they be given a second chance? I see a massive defeat for them. Everyone is complaining, things have gone worse.”
Edwin Nyonlee, a final-year university student, shared a similar view with Peter. He said he foresees CDC having a tough election this year.
Nyonlee: “Montserrado County used to be the CDC’s stronghold. Look at the past presidential elections, during the first round, they get at least 45 percent of their votes from Montserrado, but they have lost the confidence of the people of Montserrado County. See the margin Sen. Dillon won with, see the gap. No more free rides for the CDC, they will find it very tough this time.”
Despite these views shared by Mulbah and Nyonlee, Massa Dukuly says the CDC government restored hope to many marginalized Liberians and has made them feel a part of the country. “At first, nobody cared about people like us, especially we the market women. Today, our President is building modern markets all over the country for us the market women. We’re seeing roads in our communities. Look at Doe Community, see how the water used to set there when the rain falls, but it’s no longer happening like before. President Weah is really doing well, the police, especially the City Police people are not beating us like before and just seizing our markets.”
Henry Sumo, a resident of Matadi said he is sure of a one-round victory for Pres. Weah. “The opposition people, what are they doing? What have they done? When they had power what did they do with it? Now, you see, they’re fighting among themselves so, how will they even win the election. President Weah is doing his best for the country and for those of us following his work, we’re happy. Things are getting difficult everywhere but he has tried to keep the country stable. If you think Liberia is hard, go to Sierra Leone, go to Ghana and ask the people there,” said Sumo.
The cracks within the CDC may be one of its advantages for the upcoming elections, however, even the CDC has its own internal wranglings. While President Weah may have announced that Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor remains his running mate for the upcoming election, the National Patriotic Party, the constituent party that the Vice President heads is in disarray.
Senator James Biney, the embattled chairman of the NPP recently said Vice President Taylor’s tenure as the standard bearer of the party has ended and therefore has declared said position vacant.
The party said this is in keeping with the constitution of the party. She may not continue to serve as standard bearer except if there is an amendment. A statement issued on Thursday, December 29, 2022, said.
There has been division in the NPP for some time with one group supporting madam Taylor while the other group supports Senator James Biney of Maryland county.
“Be that as it may, on the 2nd Saturday of December 2022, Madam Jewel Howard-Taylor’s tenure as Standard Bearer of the NPP constitutionally ended in line with articles 3.2 and 9.1 of the NPP’s Constitution. 3.2, there shall be a national convention held once every six years or during the year of general and presidential elections, amongst other things, to nominate and endorse candidates for presidential and legislative positions as a result of primaries held in the political subdivisions; 9.1, no officer or official of the Party can succeed himself or herself more than once,” Biney indicated in a statement.
In the same statement, it said;” except amended, the constitution of the NPP prohibits Madam Taylor and all elected officials from seeking a third term. Madam Taylor was first elected Standard Bearer of the Party in 2010 and was reelected 2016 for a six-year term.
“In line with the National Elections Commission published electoral guidelines and the NPP Constitution section 11. 1(nomination of legislative candidates) and 11.2 (nomination for presidential candidates) the National Executive Committee in its Thursday, December 29, 2022 siting mandates the Secretary-General to give notice inviting applications from members for nomination as the Party legislative and presidential candidates,” it further said.