MONROVIA – It is no secret that Mr. Edward Appleton of the Grassroots Development Movement (GDM) is an unexpected hero of the just ended October 10, 2023 Presidential and General elections who has become a darling boy wanted by the two big players on the political field of the 2023 Presidential run-off election.
By Henry Karmo, [email protected]
Liked him or not, believed it or not, he is the third runner-up to the two biggest political partis after a process that witness a crowded field of twenty participants for the position of the Presidency.
He conquered the third place from big names which includes Mr. Alexander Cummings of the Alternative National Congress, by extension the CPP. He beat the likes of Tiawon Gongloe from a vote rich County of Nimba shown in the National Elections records of count.
Appleton obtained forty thousand two hundred seventy-one (40, 271 votes) constituting 2.20% of the total vote count.
To the surprised of many politicians and ordinary Liberians, the name Edward Wade-Appleton wasn’t one of the names many would have expected to pull such a fight or make a difference. The theories behind his big entry into the Liberian politics are many.
Some are of believe that, the votes he acquired was a mistake vote as a result of the failed o voter and civic education instituted by the National elections commission, or its Mr. Alexander Cummings votes and or a strategic to take the two candidates to a second round.
Whatever the situation is, Mr. Appleton is the man of the season and whoever he supports give that candidate an edge for reasons which includes; the person who emerged 3rd in a crowded competition of the October 10, 2023 elections is coming with an advantage.
According to Appleton his decision to endorse the UP-Alliance is a result of the decision taken by the Party’s executive committee who voted 70% in favor of siding with the UP-Alliance and as head he couldn’t change that decision
“We believe what the UP says they stand for is aligning with our party’s agenda and we hope the UP will carry our ideology and principles with you we believe what the UP say they stand for is aligning with our Party.”
UP on Edge
What would have been a dramatic political U-turn nearly occurred on Tuesday November 7, 2023 placing Unity Party on edge as their standard bearer Ambassador Joseph Nyumah Boakai was made to wait in his vehicle for more than thirty minutes waiting for his host to receive him who was nowhere to be found.
It became an embarrassing and scaring moment when it became rumors amongst party officials of the UP that the CDC was attempting to hijack the process with a lucrative offer to Mr. Appleton to change his decision last minutes.
It is reported that Officials of the CDC including Finance Minister Samuel Tweh, Campaign Manager Eugene Nagbe, Margibi County Senator elect Nathaniel McGill, had made Appleton a huge financial offer in cash to make a U-turn against the UP.
After a long wait, the UP had the last laugh as Appleton appeared and made the endorsement statement in which he said, his decision wasn’t about personal benefits but that of the country and between the two individuals in the race, he prefer Boakai over George Weah.
Appleton who many described as the a surprised in the October 10, 2023 elections is the third runner-up with more than 40K votes over taking Mr. Alexander Cummings of the Alternative National Congress (ANC) who sat at third place in 2017.