MONROVIA – The National Patriotic Party (NPP) has sent out a warning to the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) and the Liberia People Democratic Party (LPDP) to abort any plan of fielding candidates in counties where the NPP has incumbents in the Senate for the upcoming senatorial election.
The decision to send out the caveat was reached Sunday evening after hours of closed-door meeting at the party’s headquarters in Congo.
The meeting was attended by Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor, Maryland County Senator Dan Morais, Chairman Emeritus Chairman Cyril Allen, Bomi County Senator Sando Johnson, former chairman Lawrence George, Secretary of the Senate Nborlor Singbeh, former Speaker Nyudueh Morkonmana, former Vice President John Gray, ex-general Roland Duo, among others.
Speaking to the FrontPageAfrica after the meeting, Chief Allen said the NPP has resolved to ensure that the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) sticks to the agreement that brought the tripartite arrangement that formed the Coalition.
Chief Allen: “Our agreement between the three collaborating parties under the Coalition was very clear and the Election Commission used our documents as basis to register as a Coalition; we must not renege on it. It is very bad for institution to make commitment and sign documents and submit them to international respectable bodies and renege on those agreements, that shows lack of seriousness.
“When it comes to senatorial seats, we said that all incumbent seats that any of the three-member parties and to some extent the collaborating political parties will remain for those parties and only with negotiation and discussion within those parties will allow those seats be given out.”
Currently, the NPP has three sitting senators to include Bomi County Senator Sando Johnson, Maryland County Senator Dan Morais, and Senator Armah Jallah of Gbarpolu County respectively.
He disclosed that the NPP is being hinted that some individuals are behind the scene lobbying to go as candidates on the Coalition ticket for the pending senatorial election, something he said is “unacceptable”.
“But you cannot come on the Coalition ticket except there is no member party occupying that seat and also the NPP is trying to lobby with other political parties to know who they have occupying some seats in the Senate. Remember there are many seats that are not being occupied by the Coalition and we have other people who would be interested in going for those seats so that the NPP can win more seats in the coming senatorial election,” he said.
“When it comes to senatorial seats, we said that all incumbent seats that any of the three-member parties and to some extent the collaborating political parties will remain for those parties and only with negotiation and discussion within those parties will allow those seats be given out.“
– Chief Cyril Allen, Chairman Emeritus, NPP
He further warned that all the seats belonging to the NPP would not be compromised urging those lobbying for seats to go elsewhere. “All they can do is to lobby with the NPP to support them in other areas where we might not have seats or interest than to go around lobbying to occupy NPP slots within the Coalition and if that happens within the Coalition, we will file an action to the NEC because we have our documents to prove such agreement that was entered into by the three parties,” Chief Allen said.
He also disclosed that the issue of disrespect to the Vice President, Jewel Howard Taylor, was discussed in the meeting, making specific reference to the party’s National Secretary General Andrew Peters who he (Allen) says Peters shows no respect to the VP as head of the party.
The former NPP Chairman emeritus also frowned on those who had been lobbying for jobs and are not performing to expectations, saying their underperformance is causing embarrassment for the government.
“Their lack of effective performance to their duties is creating lots of bottlenecks to our government. We cannot afford to say it because the people of Liberia are depending on us, I am sending out this warning to all of our officials including our Senators and Representative to be committed to their duties and stop being selfish to their own desire,” he warned.