Gbarnga, Bong County – The opposition Liberty Party seems to be witnessing good moment in Bong County as key political figures in the county are romancing with the party.
Its emergence as one of the major contending political parties in the county ahead of the 2017 general and presidential elections may not be unconnected with internal strife within the Bong chapter of the ruling Unity Party and the out-of-favour Bong chapter of the Congress for Democratic Change.
Inter-party politics has played its part in the party’s poor showing in in previous elections in the county, but it appears, the tide has changed as the bigwigs including influential leaders in the county are either covertly or overtly expressing plans to embrace the LP platform to launch their political desire in 2017.
Among those nurturing this ambition is the influential Jarpah Tokpah, who has huge following in electoral District #3, Lee Rogers, a legislative aspirant of electoral district six, who is poised to be petitioned by scores of citizens in the district, Silas Tokpa, a former legislative candidate of electoral District #6.
Another character, who defection to the party is paying off in electoral District #6, is a former lawmaker Martin Kerkulah.
Kerkulah, while announcing his defection said he shunned other political parties because he believes in the philosophy of the party. His defection continues to generate positive response, particularly from his supporters.
There is also insinuation about the alleged romance with the Liberty Party by a prominent businessman in electoral district one, Junior Hills, who is credited for sponsoring youths of the district through his scholarship scheme.
The ‘next lawmaker’ of electoral district one, is making incumbent Tokpa Mulbah to run for his money as he continues to receive petitions from citizens of the district.
FrontPage Africa gathered that the development followed an alleged statement by Rep. Mulbah, a member of the Peoples Unification Party (PUP) that his closeness with the party’s political leadership Cllr. Charles Brumskine will not allow the party fielding a candidate in the district 2017.
But according to Liberty Party officials in the county, they have observed that the large crowd of ‘self-sponsored women’, who are supporters of Hills at separate programs organized in the district, have been an indication that the people had been disappointed by Tokpa Mulbah-led administration.
Hills, according to sources, has said he would announce the date for his formal defection to LP later and noted that the party is currently undergoing serious and meteoric growth, adding that the party had assumed the position of a formidable party that was ready to win elections in Liberia.
Selma Lomax, [email protected]