MONROVIA – Since the release of the timelines for the October legislative and presidential elections by the National Elections Commission (NEC), Liberians have been inundated by a deluge of declarations of intent by aspirants seeking elective office.
By Selma Lomax, [email protected] & Yawah Jaivey, FPA’s Margibi Correspondent
In Liberia, governance has become an all-comers’ affair. Everyone now seeks access to power. It’s an election cycle like no other in Liberia’s history, no fewer than 800 aspirants vying to become representatives. In Monsterrado County alone, there are over 100 aspirants vying to become representatives, while there are over 40 aspirants vying to become representatives.
In its second-part series, FrontPageAfrica analyses the chances and challenges of lawmakers of Districts 10, 8, 6 and 4 who are seeking re-elections and the five districts in Margibi County up for grabs.
YEKEH KOLUBAH, DISTRICT TEN, INDEPENDENT: District Ten in Monsterrrado County will be one of the districts to watch out for in October. Reason? The incumbent lawmaker, Yekeh Kolubah, has been a vocal critic of President George Weah’s government. Like or hate him, the lawmaker has earned his popularity such criticism. In earnest, he is the most popular lawmaker in Liberia. There is no secret the regime is plotting to ensure Rep. Kolubah doesn’t get re-elected. From fielding a candidate in Josephine Davies to reportedly bankrolling Yeakeh Sayequee, the ruling establishment’s quest to ousting the incumbent appears to be in place, but the question remains are all the proxy candidates popular to defeat Yekeh?
Only October will tell.
Re-election Odds: Rep. Kolubah has a fifty five percent chance of being re-elected
Rustolyn Suacoco Dennis, District Four: The incumbent is trying to fend off the record that this district hasn’t re-elected its representative for years. She has been criticized for not bringing back the dividends of democracy since her election in 2017, but her recent impressive performance including the commissioning of high profile projects and the endorsement of her candidacy by the opposition may alter the equation in October’s contest.
Frankly, the race in District Four is too close to call.
ACAROUS GRAY, DISTRICT EIGHT, CDC: Adamawa: This is also a district to watch. The incumbent lawmaker Acarous Gray and Prince Tole, a candidate backed by the opposition Unity Party, are the major contenders. In the last election, Toles put up a fight against Gray. He cannot be dismissed outright because of his past political exploits and his capacity to win votes from the Christian population in the district. Likely Winner: Too close to call (Between Gray of CDC and Toles UP).
Samuel Enders, District Six, INDP: The race in District Six is going to be an interesting one. Although Enders is seen as one of the popular lawmakers in Monsterrado county owing to the level of work he has done over the years, there is the threat of the rampaging Arthur Gotolo, an independent candidate who is reportedly being bankrolled by the former Minister of State, Nathaniel McGill. Also, the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) is also fielding a candidate in Richard Singbah, although the incumbent has announced his support for President Weah’s re-election.
Likely Winner: Samuel Enders
MARGIBI COUNTY:
Tilbelrosa Summoh Tarponweh, Independent Candidate, District One: Incumbent Tarponweh, a fierce critic of the CDC-led government, recently deflected the ruling Coalition for Democratic (CDC) to dodge the party’s primary when he sensed a plot reportedly orchestrated by top hierarchies ahead of the party’s primary in favor of the new party’s candidate, Marie Eva Doerner.
Rep. Tarponweh’s critical posture against the CDC-led government triggered enmity between him and top-party officials. In spite of the fury amongst party officials over his critical stance against his own party led-government, Rep. Tarponweh won onto himself huge admiration and support amongst electorates of his district that is deep-rooted with intellectuals that support candidates that talked and take action that benefits the masses. Rep. Tarponweh enjoys overwhelming support from Firestone plantation workers for advocating on their behalf. Notably, Rep. Tarpoweh is credited for co-sponsoring a bill to amend the Decent Work Act of 2015 that stopped all concession companies’ retirement pension component in the country and give consideration only to the National Social Security and Welfare Cooperation (NASSCORP). Firestone workers have frowned at the law terming it a ‘non-human face’ and craved for amendment. The many developmental initiatives, including the construction of the first police station in Duazon, the construction of 13 kilometers feeder road in Mambahn Administrative District, the rehabilitation of Civil Compound Road, the construction of a two-storey market building in Boys Town and a health center in the district, are sum up in an array of factors that have given the edge to Rep. Tarponweh’s reelection—and outpaced his challengers and shaped the odds in his favor.
Ivar Jones, District Two, CDC: Representative Jones has abandoned his senatorial ambition and reverted to district politics in the pending October 10 polls. Rep. Jones contested the 2020 mid-term senatorial election for Margibi and lost. Following his return, political prognosticators have cautioned that the election is going to be a nip-tuck race for Rep. Jones due to the introduction of the People’s Unification Party’s candidate Christopher Saah Orebel in the district.
The PUP’s candidate is widely considered for the job evident by the gale of endorsements received from the different groupings, including youth, women, religious leaders, and Firestone plantation workers. Orebel’s supporters believed that their district representative has neglected the district and it was time to replace him with someone who is visible in the district. Residents of the district see Rep. Jones as being vindictive and unforgiving. One of the factors that might dent Rep.
Jones’ re-election bid is the split between him and some influential stakeholders of the district who promulgated his 2017 representative ambition. Many of these stakeholders have now pledged their support to Mr. Orebel. Despite these factors coupled with the stiff competition being staged by Orebel, Rep. Jones is still being perceived as a developmental icon by his supporters. Rep. Jones is continuing to count on many gains he has made with his popular 50% salary waiver to his district for development. Through his 50% salary waiver his office in consultation with the district development council constructed for the first time a modern district office. Rep. Jones is being credited for utilizing China’s Union Social Development Funds to construct a concrete footpath bridge between Dolo Town and Smell No Taste (SMT), construction of Charlesville School’s annex, distribution of medical and non-medical materials to health facilities across the district and county. Representative Jones’ advocacy for government to give eminent land ownership to residents of Unification City in the vicinity of the Roberts International Airport could be a factor to swing votes for him in the October 10 polls. In earnest, the battle for the Representative seat in Margibi’s second district is anyone’s ball game as both Jones and Orebel look to sprint through the finish line with the majority at stake.
Ellen Attoh-Wreh, District Three, Independent: Margibi District Three will be one of the toughest districts to watch in the representative elections in Margibi County. Representative Ellen Attoh-Wreh, the banker-turned-politician, is being heavily challenged by the proprietress of the Barcolleh Health Center and independent candidate Madam Dorothy Q. Barcolleh, and youthful Unity Party (UP) candidate Dr. John Solunta Smith. Rep. Attoh-Wreh has made some viable contributions in the provision of small grants to thousands of women to startup businesses and provided livelihood skills training for wives of tappers on Firestone rubber plantation. She has built for herself a strong interpersonal relationship with her constituents, which has won her huge admiration.
What is at stake for her reelection is her failure to build for herself a house in the district and other tangible district projects. Rep. Ellen Attoh-Wreh has been labeled as a “stranger” and is struggling to identify her root in the county. Rep. Attoh-Wreh’s decision to break ranks with Senator Emmanuel Nuquay and build an alliance with U.S.-sanctioned Nathaniel Farlo McGill would make things extremely difficult for her re-election if Nuquay were to put up a proxy candidate against her. In earnest, the experienced healthcare provider Madam Dorothy Q. Barcolleh has made headlines for all the good reasons: making her health center a beacon of hope for the people of Margibi and its neighboring counties. She’s being praised for lighting up 16 divisions with solar energy in Firestone plantation and providing robust free medical and surgical outreach in the district. She’s credited for initiating several community projects including handpumps and bridges and scholarships for the youth. These would be factors for the huge support she has garnered across the district for her election in the October 10 polls. Youthful candidate Dr. John Solunta Smith is making significant thrive in providing livelihood and business training for women and youths of the district. Dr. Smith banks his faith in the huge support he continues to receive from women groups, market women, religious leaders, and the youthful population. Dr. Smith could contest as a candidate for the Unity Party (UP), a move that could gather support for him because of the strong support base of the party in the district and county.It is fair to say that the odds would either favor Madam Dorothy Q. Barcolleh or incumbent Ellen Attoh-Wreh.
District Four, Who Replaces Ben Fofana? Margibi District Four representative election will be held without an incumbent as Representative Ben A. Fofana is not seeking re-election after serving two terms. There are three top and notable names amongst the 13 candidates being discussed and vastly considered by the electorates.
They include Francis F. Cooper of the People’s Unification Party (PUP), Joseph J. Sankaituah of Unity Party (UP), and Emmanuel Yahr of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC). These top three contenders have their strengths and weaknesses: Frances F. Cooper, the Margibi County PUP’s chairman, is making a return to politics after his loss when he contested against incumbent Ben A. Fofana in 2017 and grabbed second place. The only factor that is backing Mr. Cooper as a contender is his record of contesting the previous election. Political pundits believed sympathy might swing votes in his favor. Interestingly, Mr. Cooper once flourished political fame has since diminished due to his relaxed attitude and not being visible at activities and events held by constituents of the district.
It’s widely believed that Francis Cooper’s decision to break ranks with Senator Emmanuel Nuquay who solely financed his last election will play against his odds. How Mr. Cooper, who doesn’t have the cash to execute his ambition, addresses the feud between him and Senator Nuquay remains to be seen as his failure to do so, according to political observers, could come back to dent his ambition. Mr. Joseph J. Sankaituah is an acclaimed and experienced international development professional with a strong background in implementing conflict transformation projects in West Africa and the Middle East. Mr. Sankaituah has set up a strong team in the district that has made essential contributions to several vulnerable groups in the district. Mr. Sankaituah is being praised for providing LD$ 2.2 million micro-credit to market women, building water kiosks in Kakata communities, and 15 hand pumps in rural parts of the district. He is credited for providing international media mentorship to community radio journalists of Margibi and leadership training for community-based organizations of Margibi. Mr. Sankaituah is admired for his financial support to Christian and Muslim widows for more than fifteen years. Mr. Sankaitauh’s decision to contest on the Unity Party (UP) is seem as a move that could swing votes for him because of the strong support base of the Unity Party in the district. Mr. Sankaituah’s biggest challenge is his continued absence from the district which could cause him a hectic campaign period in a bid to get known across the district. Emmanuel Yahr enjoys grassroots support from across the district. He has been consistent and quietly promulgating his ambition with the backing of some prominent businessmen of Margibi. Mr. Yahr has made a steady impact on the district in a relatively short period. Noticeably, he is credited for complementing the efforts of the Kakata City Cooperation in cleaning the city for more than two years now. The district inhabitants mirror Mr. Yahr’s lopsidedness to his low level of education. Mr. Yahr’s struggle to string together words and adequately articulate his ambition could be a crucial factor that might lead to his rejection at the polls.
Margibi District Four election is going to be a tight race and anyone’s ballgame amongst the three candidates.
Clarence Gahr, District Five: Margibi District Five is hugely being contested with 17 candidates pitted against incumbent Clarence G. Gahr. Political pundits believed this will play in his favor considering the array of factors that contribute to incumbency advantage, including the spending power. Representative Gahr will be counting on his many initiatives in the district to convince the voters to renew his mandate. He is being credited for utilizing China’s Union Social Development Funds to construct two primary schools in Galila and Kollie Dedeta in Gibi District and Borlolah Township. Rep. Gahr is praised for initiating the construction of town hall projects in Blomu and Lonfay Towns and annex to the Weala Public School and clinic project in Vayeama. He has disbursed nearly LD$8 million grant to women in his district. Rep. Gahr at the inception of his leadership disconnected himself from the district, but he has always blamed it on ailment. One factor that might favor Rep. Gahr’s reelection is the decision of his predecessor now Senator Emmanuel Nuquay not to field a candidate in the district. However, Rep. Gahr’s re-election bid is facing a daunting task over his failure to fulfill his top campaign promise of purchasing road construction equipment for the district. How Rep. Gahr amend this concern remain to be seen as his failure to do so could come back to haunt his ambition. Rep. Gahr is fiercely being challenged by the All Liberian Party’s candidate Jonathan Sahr Cooper. Mr. Cooper has proven to be a candidate to reckon with through the erection of eight handpumps, four town halls, a bus stop, and road rehabilitation in the district. He is credited for the provision of tuition-free school for unprivileged kids in the district and his contributions to churches. Mr. Cooper has been slammed across the district for making too many promises and not fulfilling them.
It is fair to say that the odds favor Rep. Clarence G. Gahr ahead of October.