GBARNGA – The much-anticipated campaign for the nation’s top seat begins today as 20 presidential candidates begin the process of convincing Liberians to vote for them and their political parties.
By Selma Lomax, [email protected]
The candidates will seek to convince the 2,471, 617 million voters why they deserve to replace President George Mannah Weah of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), who is seeking another six-year tenure.
The National Elections Commission (NEC) had set August 5 for the formal commencement of the presidential and legislative campaigns.
The presidential candidates are Joshua Tom Turner of the New Liberia Party (NLP), Luther N. Yorfee, of Liberia Rebuilding Party, Jeremiah Whapoe, of the Vision for Liberia Transformation Party, Dr. Clarence Moniba of the Liberia National Union (LINU), and Tiawan Saye Gongloe of the Liberian’s People’s Party.
Also on the ballot are former Vice President Joseph Boakai of Unity Party (UP), Collaborating Political Party’s (CPP) Alexander Cummings, Simeon Freeman of the Movement for Progressive Change (MPC), Edward W. Appleton of the Grassroots Development Movement among others.
Although the campaigns formally kick off today, the candidates had since been embarking on what they called consultations, with their supporters engaging in activities which could pass for campaigns.
Meanwhile, Moniba has described the October’s elections “as the most critical in our lifetime.” The future of our country is literally at stake. In a country with over 85% of our people under the age of 45, we can not afford a return to the relic of our failed past or a continuation of the epic failure of the last 6 years. Our New Liberia agenda will make history in these elections because it is majority-young people driven and validated by the accomplished sector of the elderly establishment. In Grace and me, Liberians have the most qualified opposition team in terms of executive experience to “hit the ground running” from day one.
“I have raised millions of dollars for infrastructural development in this country; we have exposed corruption at the highest levels in government. In these elections, we encourage the Liberian people to challenge the candidates on what they are capable of doing for this country. In this light, we call on all candidates (especially the other candidates named by the reputable Bloomberg Africa magazine as, along with us, being among the top four contenders in President Weah, former VP Boakai, and Mr. Cummings) to join us in carrying out at least five nationwide debates in the next two months so that our people are fully informed about the choices they face. We have a charge to keep and are most prepared to deliver for the Liberian people.”
Amid rising calls for issues-based campaigns, FrontPage Africa has observed that some of the key candidates and their spokespersons in Bong County have been locked in brickbats over issues of ethnic divisions and intra-party squabbles.
Still, the issues of security, education reforms, healthcare decline and acute economic distress and corruption have remained topic issues heading into the October polls.
An investigation conducted by FrontPage Africa showed that an overwhelming majority of Liberians want to vote candidates that can tackle the problems of corruption, economic hardship and education among others head-on.
CDC, UP, CPP, Others Sweet-talk The Electorate
Meanwhile, major political parties in the country and their presidential candidates have started wooing Liberians, especially eligible voters, with colorful speeches and political oratory ahead of October.
Recently, Bong County Senator Prince Moye, a staunch member of Unity Party’s campaign team, was in Bong’s District Six, where he made available some items to citizens for voting him in the 2020 mid-term senatorial election.
He also thanked them for the elaborate arrangements made and ensuring that adequate preparations were made despite his communication shortcomings.
“That’s leadership; that’s commitment, that’s selflessness, and I highly appreciate you people,” Sen. Moye stated.
Sen. Moye described his visit as part of his consultations with citizens to thank them for their support in 2020, to listen to them regarding the issues specific to their area and to encourage them to support the Boakai-Koung ticket.
Sen. Moye noted that the citizens must be prepared to hit the ground running from day one of campaign, adding that if they elect Boakai and Jeremiah Koung in October, the Unity Party would wriggle the country out of its present state.
“Our country is in very bad shape and rescuing it requires proper preparations and attention to details, not just in terms of general issues affecting the whole country,” he stated.
We’re Ready For Issue-based Campaigns – LPP
Also, the Vice Standard bearer of LPP, Dr. Emmanuel Urey Yarkpawolo said his party was ready for issue-based campaigns ahead of October. Dr. Yarkpawolo: “It is a fact that the popularity and influence of LPP recently has been astonishing wherein it has witnessed exponential and geometric growth across the country, the fear factor being expressed by the other political parties which has pushed them into resorting to obstructing and in some cases manhandling of otherwise, LPP supporters who have been embarking on peaceful rallies, is a threat to our democracy.
“As a political party, we promised Liberians that the party would run an issue based campaign. We have also put our house in order, and we will be coming up with a formidable team that will run the campaign and that will deliver power to the real owners, the people”.
“The LPP will not just bring a government in place with the help of the people, but will go as far as holding the government accountable to the Liberian people who voted them into office.
“This 2023 general election and the campaign is all about the people, they are the ones that will drive the process. They are the ones already driving it as you can see across the length and breadth of Liberia. We are only giving direction to it.
“We are going to enthrone leadership that will work for the people and that leadership is going to be held accountable for the people. We are going to make sure Cllr. Gongloe and all other candidates that win on the LPP’s platform are held accountable to the people,” he said.
Jarwolo Warns Politicians Against Violence
Meanwhile, as electioneering campaigns commence today ahead of the general elections in October, Eddie Jarwolo, Chief Executive Director for Naymote Partners for Democratic Development, has warned desperate politicians against adversarial dispositions in the course of wooing the electorates for support.
Jarwolo warns that “as campaigns kick- off, politicians must desist from destroying their opponents with vituperations”.
Please Vote Your Favorite Candidate
Who is your choice for President in the 2023 Presidential Elections in Liberia?