Monrovia – With the waves of activities as the campaign for the 2017 elections begin; some political pundits believe that Vice President Joseph Boakai support base seems to be shrinking gradually – something the ruling party believe is not true.

Report by Al Varney Rogers, al.rogers@frontpageafricaonline.com

With the National Election Commission release of its final listing of those vying for representative seats and the presidency, revealing names of those who initially started trumpeting Boakai presidential ambition are now on the ticket of different political party other than the Unity Party.

The listing leave many to wonder whether the names of staunch members of the ruling party and supporters of Vice President Joseph Boakai appearing under a newly established political party Coalition for Liberia’s Progress (CLP) is an offspring of the Unity Party apparently meant to maintain a dominance in the lower house, or it might represent a decline in the support for Vice President Boakai presidential bid.

 Coalition for Liberia’s Progress (CLP) is considered a safe haven for appointed officials whose fate was at the mercy of the Supreme Court.

In 2011, Alexander A. Suah Sr. ran on the Unity Party ticket and served as an assistant Minister at the Ministry of Internal Affairs but is now on the ticket of the Coalition for Liberia’s Progress vying for the Montserrado district five seat, current Minister of Gender Julia Duncan -Cassell who for months has been trumpeting Veep Boakai’s presidential bid and Bong County Superintendent Selena Mappy Pulson who was allegedly coerced by chiefs to support vice president Boakai, something she denied, will not be a Unity Party candidate in Bong County.

And Deputy Minister of Information Andrew Tehmeh of Bong district seven 7 is also not a Unity Party Candidate for the representative seat.

Recently, Vice President Boakai has received unprecedented endorsements across the country before naming his running mate.

After naming his second man the narrative seems to be changing, so whether those endorsements are intact is something that has to pass the test of the campaign.

It is also reported that Findley is about to exit the Unity Party, his move comes in the aftermath of the Vice President’s decision to select Emmanuel Nuquay.

Findley sudden reversal is likely to deal a major blow to the ruling party which is said to have been relying on Findley to help capture a sizeable number of voters in the Bassa belt and put Brumskine off course.

The Assistant Secretary General of Unity Party Mo Ali said those candidates still remain strong supporters of the vice president presidential bid. 

“They are still strong supporters, today Selena Mappy Pulson was with us, both Mappy Polson and Duncan Cassell are still in the forefront of the Vice President campaign,” Ali said.

As for the news of Findley leaving, the Assistant Secretary General of Unity Party said the party has not receive any communication regarding Findley exiting the party.

“We don’t know about that, we only read the news in FrontPage Africa, consulting his family does not mean he is leaving and we have not receive any of such communication,” Ali said.

Totota, Bong County – Last week’s ruling by the Supreme Court on the controversial Code of Conduct (CoC) has brought what could be described as life into the political ambitions of former Bong County superintendent Madam Selena Polson-Mappy and former Deputy Minister of Information Andrew Tehmeh, who were virtually out of the political process.

Report by Selma Lomax, selma.lomax@frontpageafricaonline.com

After winning the ruling Unity Party primary in District #6 in Bong County, the party did not submit Polson-Mappy’s nomination papers, eagerly awaiting the outcome of multiple petitions filed before the high court on the CoC.

She waited patiently as her political ambition vanished in thin air, until the last day, when she finally submitted her papers after the court ruled in favor of Liberty Party’s vice standard bearer Harrison Karnwea and the vice standard bearer of Alternative National Congress (ANC) Jeremiah Sulunteh that the National Elections Commission should rather levy fines than barring these two from contesting.

Now, after the submission of her candidacy to the NEC, Polson-Mappy Tuesday received a heroic welcome on her return to Totota, electoral district six, where she will be aspiring as representative of that district.

Polson-Mappy, whose appeal on the CoC was rejected by the Supreme Court in March this year, had insisted that she would be a candidate for the district.

Legislative candidates in the district including Lee Rogers of Liberty Party and Corneh had hoped that the court bars Polson-Mappy from contesting.

“I hope the Supreme Court will uphold the rule of law and bar Polson-Mappy from contesting because we have to respect the law,” Corneh spoke to FrontPageAfrica prior to the Supreme Court’s ruling on Polson-Mappy.

Rogers expressed disappointment in the ruling.

“We are disappointed in the Supreme Court for the ruling. Polson-Mappy would have been the main person the Supreme Court would have barred from contesting,” he said. 

Taunting opponents

On her return to the district, Polson-Mappy who resigned her post as superintendent of Bong County on July 6, 2017, sent jibe at her opponents who had wished negative about her in the CoC saga.

“The plans of my opponents have failed. I will be a candidate in the race and I will defeat every one of them like I defeated the Code of Conduct. “

“They thought I wouldn’t contest in the district, but I want to tell them that I am back with vigor,” Polson-Mappy said.

Polson-Mappy said the Supreme Court’s ruling has given her more vigor to defeat her opponents in the upcoming election.

“The latest ruling from the Supreme Court has given me strength and enthusiasms to continue to do more for my people of electoral district six. I am the next lawmaker of electoral district six,” Polson-Mappy said.

Could CoC clearance boost Polson-Mappy’s chances?

Even before the Supreme Court’s verdict on Polson-Mappy, Polson-Mappy used her position to attract county-sponsored projects to district.

Though her critics say her projects attracted to the districts are government funded projects, Polson-Mappy boasts of attracting over 15 projects since her five years stint as superintendent of the county.

She constructed a town hall in Zeanzue clan, rehabilitated feeder roads in the three clans in the district can testify to benefit.

For Polson-Mappy, who firstly contested in the 2011 election and finished third in the district with 2400 (22.4 per cent), believes her position as superintendent has increased her popularity among her kinsmen.

“This is the best chance I have to win the district because I have come to the election with impeccable records as former superintendent of the county. “

“Through my position I have managed to attract more projects to the district and those projects are now impacting the people of the district,” she said.

“I contested the 2011 election when I was just an accountant of a fishery company and I got 2400 votes.”

“This time around I am going into the election as a former superintendent who has come with so much history,” she added.

The ruling by the Supreme Court ultimately comes as boost to the former Superintendent as voters could even sympathize with her situation and prefer rewarding her for her courage, according to political observers.

She was the first in the Republic to muster the courage to challenge certain provisions of the Code of Conduct, insisting that it violated her constitutional rights.

Such bravery by a sitting Superintendent to file a petition against the government for a law that was signed by the President of the Republic could be some of the reasons to help the former Superintendent attract more supporters.

When others dare challenge the law, she took the lead, which is a good trait of a leader and with her clearance; her opponent might be up for a big fight in October.

Tehmeh in the clear, too

In Bong County, another person whose opponents were wishing to see off the race is the former Deputy Minister for Administration at the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Andrew Tehmeh.

Incumbent lawmaker of District 7 Corpu Barclay openly expressed that she wished the Deputy Minister was barred from contesting to give her an edge in the process.

Surviving death, Tehmeh says           

Tehmeh, after his clearance on the final day like the case of Madam Mappy, described the situation as surviving death.

“This is like surviving a death trap, it has given me more strength to fight,” he said.

Like Tehmeh and Mappy, the decision by the Supreme Court has come as big boost to their political ambitions, according to political observers.

Monrovia – When the Executive Branch of Government in 2009 submitted a bill – the Code of Conduct to the National Legislature for passage into law, the Code received huge public commendations especially some provisions regarding the conduct of public officials whom many see as acting above the very law they make.

After years of massive work in towns and villages across Liberia followed by the establishment of the Movement for Economic Empowerment, the Supreme Court of Liberia seems to have ended the 2017 presidential hopes of Dr. J. Mills Jones and others including, Dr. Jallah Barbu, Bong Superintendent Mappy and others after an opinion dismissing a petition against a provision in the Code of Conduct law passed by the National Legislature requiring appointed officials of the executive branch of government to resign their positions two years prior to any election they wish to contest.

Some provisions of the Code of Conduct including Section 9.1 prohibits public officials from taking bribes and gifts. It also prohibits receiving or encouraging the giving of any form of bribe or casual gift in connection with the performance of his/her duties, whether for himself or herself or members of his or her family.

The Code of Conduct was in good shape with some interesting provisions including Section 11.3 on Sexual Harassment, which frowns on unethical and unbecoming behavior such as the use of rude, abusive and obscene language, indecent dressing, and sexual gestures which constitute sexual harassment and violation of human dignity and human rights.

For many Liberians, the Code of Conduct was about to reduce the excessive power exercised by public officials, setting a limit to their actions by providing sanctions for would be violators. Section 13.1 provides protection from reprisal or discipline, for public officials and employees of Government who, in good faith, report allegations of wrong doing in contravention of the Code of Conduct.

At the Legislature, the lawmakers, exercising their rights as provided for in Article 90 (c ) of the constitution made additions to the Conduce of Conduct .

Article 90 (c) of the Constitution provides : “The Legislature shall prescribe a Code of Conduct for all public officials and employees stipulating the acts which constitute conflict of interest or are against public policy, and the penalties for violation thereof.”

Sticky provisions harm many

Some sticky provisions in the Code of Conduct are now serving as obstacle to the political dream of many individuals.

The Code of Conduct in Part V: Political Participation states “5.1 All Officials appointed by the President of the Republic of Liberia shall not:   a) engage in political activities, canvass or contest for elected offices;   b) use Government facilities, equipment or resources in support of partisan or political activities;   c) serve on a campaign team of any political party, or the campaign of any independent candidate”.

For some this provision of the Code of Conduct was susceptible to challenge at the Supreme Court with its constitutionality under question. 

But as of last Thursday, an opinion by the Supreme Court of Liberia has now dashed the hopes of several including former Governor of Central Bank of Liberia Dr. J. Mills Jones, Bong County Superintendent Selina Polson Mappy, Dr. Jallah Barbu and several including any Minister, Deputy Minister, Director-General, Managing Director and Superintendent appointed by the President pursuant to article 56 (a) of the Constitution and a Managing Director appointed by a Board of Directors.

A civil society organization, Citizens Solidarity Council (CSC) through its Chairman, James Brooks filed a petition before the Supreme Court against the Government of Liberia by and thru the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General of the Republic of Liberia, contesting the constitutionality of a provision of the Code of Conduct.

After the writ was filed, the Ministry of Justice filed a response against the writ to the Supreme Court, asking the court to dismiss the writ as the group, through its Chairman Brooks, has no capacity to file such a lawsuit against the government.

Following lengthy legal review of the petition, the Supreme Court voted 3 consenting and 2 dissenting in throwing out the petition. 

In law, a dissent by a justice can sometimes serve as a basis for decision in future cases sometimes of similar nature and Justice Philip A.Z. Banks in his dissent stated that the high court did not dwell into the substantive issues of the case.

Chief Justice Francis Kporkor in his opinion declared that CSC through its Chairman, Brooks did not have the capacity to file the petition against the Code of Conduct, an indication that his opinion might have been largely based on procedural rather than substantive issues of law although FrontPageAfrica is yet to get a full copy of the opinion. 

Under the Liberian legal system, the Supreme Court or a judge can rule on the basis of procedural or substantive issues of law. On the basis of substantive issues, the judge looks at the legal issues raised in a petition while the procedural takes into consideration the process-who is filling the petition, how the petition is filled and other processes. In either instance the decision of the court is still binding and enforceable.

Jones’ political demise?

The opinion of the Supreme Court has now become a binding precedent under the legal jurisdiction of Liberia and the court will have to use its recent ruling to decide cases of similar nature which might arise sometimes in the future.

The current decision will look to reduce the hopes of others who might be contemplating filing similar petition against the provision of the Code of Conduct.

While serving as Governor of the Central Bank, Dr. Jones embarked on a vigorous campaign to take the CBL loan scheme to towns and villages across Liberia, where his popularity started to grow much to the displeasure of some lawmakers who called for an audit of the CBL and the entire loan scheme.

In May, Dr. Jones accepted a petition from a group of Liberians to contest the presidency in 2017, promising to provide jobs and ensure that Liberians are prime actors of their economy.

“Ensuring Liberians become prime actors in the Liberian economy is an idea whose time has come. We will use fiscal policy, monetary policy, trade policy and investment policy to reinforce each other so that their total impact will advance Liberian participation and ensure greater ownership of the Liberian economy at all levels”, Dr. Jones declared at a colorful program to mark his acceptance of a petition to contest the Presidency held on Wednesday May 25, 2016 at the Paynesville Town Hall.

Dr. Jones who served as Governor of the Central Bank for 10 years left the bank last February falling short of the two years clause in the Code of Conduct for those appointed by the president wishing to contest elective post to resign two years prior to the election.

Dr. Barbu in legal dragnet

Another presidential candidate that will be affected by the opinion of the Supreme Court is Dr. Jallah A. Barbu who has declared his ambition to contest the presidency.

Dr. Barbu, a constitutional lawyer who is currently the only Liberian in-country with a Doctorate degree in law is expected to face the wrath of the law he knows well as the opinion by the high court will end his dream of becoming president.

Dr. Barbu resigned from the Law Reform Commission where he has been serving as Chairperson in May 2016, making him to fall short of the two-years requirement as per the Code of Conduct Law.

Upon his resignation from the Law Reform Commission, Dr. Barbu in June declared that he will be contesting the presidency in 2017.

“Having therefore consulted you and receiving from you the unwavering affirmation that I fit the criteria set by Dr. Harry Moniba (LINU founding father) now deceased and reechoed by you I do hereby now declare to the people of the Republic of Liberia and the World that I Cllr. /Dr. Jallah A. Barbu, a humble son of this Republic, I am contesting for the presidency of Liberia in the presidential election scheduled for October 10, 2017”, Dr. Barbu said.

According to him, there is a leadership vacuum and he is hoping to fill the gap.

Dr. Barbu said: “The fact that prior to today we have had several individuals express their desire to contest the presidency, yet the people of this country have generally remain reluctant to participate in the electoral process, clearly speaks to the dire need of people for genuine leaders”.

But now that big dream looks farfetched.

Superintendent Mappy dealt a blow

Bong County Superintendent Selina Polson Mappy is another name that has been dealt a big blow. The Superintendent has been working over the last period solidifying her position to contest the seat currently held by Representative Bill A. Corneh.

Some citizens from the Bong District say the Superintendent is a strong force in the ensuing election and when she is finally out of the race it will be a boost to her opponents.

Superintendent Mappy who was suspended over allegations of corruption was reinstated in early May by President Sirleaf.

Madam Mappy was suspended in December 2015 by President Sirleaf on allegation of the misapplication of funds meant for the Feasibility Study for Gbarnga Streets.

President Sirleaf in a communication informed Superintendent Mappy that an April 20, 2016 letter from the Executive Chairman of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission advised that investigation into the allegation established no conduct of criminal culpability and therefore vindicated her and sealed the investigation into the matter.

“On the basis of this conclusion, you are hereby reinstated to the position of Superintendent of Bong County and hereby urge you to take into account the sentiments of the population, existing laws and policies as you consider your future endeavors”, President Sirleaf told Superintendent Mappy during the restatement.

Another name likely to be affected by the high court’s decision is Nagbe Sloh Deputy Minister of Information at the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism who is believed to contesting a legislative seat in Sinoe County.

The opinion by the Supreme Court is a big decision that will continue to be discussed ahead of the 2017 general and presidential elections.

Samwar S. Fallah, samwar.fallah@frontpageafricaonline.com