Monrovia – The Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) campaign spokesman, Prof. Ansu Sonii has denounced earlier pronouncement by some stalwarts of the party that the CDC has mechanisms in place to announce election results, even before it is announced by the National Elections Commission (NEC).
Report by Edwin Genoway – [email protected] &
Willie Tokpah – [email protected]
Recently, the Chairman of the party, Nathaniel McGill said the CDC will not wait for the National Elections Commission to announce official results of the polls, instead, the Coalition will create a war room at its national headquarters in Monrovia, where its poll workers around the country will send results via modern technology from polling centers for subsequent posting to various media outlets.
McGill explained that the rationale behind pronouncing results ahead of NEC is to deny anyone that may have any intention of cheating the CDC.
However, he noted that the National Elections Commission will officially declare winner of the election, but the CDC will not only look to the commission.
He said the Coalition’s results would be certified by observers, NEC workers and other poll watchers.
Chairman McGill disclosed that already, the CDC is training over 20,000 poll workers, who will be deployed throughout the country equipped and well financed with the sole obligation of forwarding results on an hourly basis to national headquarters in Monrovia.
But on the contrary, Professor Ansu Sonii said the CDC will refrain from doing such.
Speaking on Capitol FM in Monrovia, Prof. Sonii acknowledged that it is only the National Elections Commission that has the authority to announce the election results.
“God forbid, we will not announce elections results officially, but what we will do is to announce various results at polling and voter centers”
“We will do that to update our people in the various constituencies,” he said.
Meanwhile, Coalition for Democratic Change says it’s keen on its campaign promises of bringing a change to the livelihood of Liberians by encouraging a government of inclusion, if its quest to unseat the current ruling establishment is backed up by Liberians through the ballots.
The party believed to be grass root-driven, said it is strict about its quest to provide job opportunities for Liberian, especially the unemployed and would not change all civil servants who are currently serving in the Unity Party-led regime.
Coalition for Democratic Change Vice Chairman for Mobilization, Mulbah Morlu told supporters at the Party’s headquarters on Tuesday that it will encourage the participation of civil servants in its government, if successful in the coming days, but was clear about not encouraging the practice of corruption.
“George Weah will not be president and change every government official from government, which is not what we will do.
He is not going to change civil servants, they are not our target.
He will be president for all, including civil servants and Liberians and so the propaganda that he is taking people jobs from them will not be dignified with a response,” Morlu stressed.
Morlu’s statement follows recent information emanating from some quarters in Liberia that the renowned football legend turned politician will not be willing to work with current government officials due to fear of his regime being undermined.
But the CDC vice Chair for Mobilization alleged that the assertion is propaganda permeated by the presidential campaign team of Vice President Joseph Boakai.
According to him, VP Boakai’s campaign team is cognizant that it cannot win an objective political fight except by confusing the minds of CDC Supporters by engaging in a smear campaign.
However, the Campaign Spokesperson of the Unity Party Mohammed Ali noted that said statement was made by the CDC and not his party’s campaign team.
“I don’t see what is wrong with that; everyone knows that George Weah said it. It was the CDC that said it will sack everyone, all the Civil Servants, so why are they accusing us for what they said and we are going to say what they said,” Ali intoned.
Ali noted that the Unity Party Campaign team is already in readiness to sensitize Liberians about the CDC’s plan to dismiss all civil servants, since the party’s intention is not good.
Speaking with FrontPage Africa via mobile phone on Tuesday, the UP Campaign Spokesman said nothing is wrong with repeating what was stated by the political leader against the interest of Liberian Civil Servants, challenging the CDC to go to court if they have qualms with the Unity Party.
The Coalition for Democratic Change Mobilization head further asserted that it would be impossible for all civil servants to be dismissed from government which his party will take into strong consideration if given the Liberian presidency, stating that Weah’s presidency will bring Liberians together instead of creating division among them.
Morlu stated that the CDC’s quest to promote good governance cannot be compromised if a change of government favored them, something the party said is expressed in its political leader’s promise to ensure a free and compulsory education for Primary and Secondary students.
He also registered that a recent tour by the CDC Campaign team clearly demonstrates the party’s preparedness for a change which will not be compromised in the October 10 poll.
According to him, the result of the October poll will not be negotiated on grounds that its campaign atmosphere shows that party will win the election in the first round.
“The people desire and quest for change cannot be compromised this year. I am talking about Weah a man who was defeated in 2005 because he was cheated and still accepted to work for peace for 12 year,” Morlu said.
From Sinoe, Grand Gedeh to Grand Cape Mount along with several other counties in Liberia, Morlu described the entry of Weah in these areas as the biggest political eclipse that had ever taken place in Liberia.
He records Weah contribution to Liberia during and after the country’s civil crisis, referencing his leadership role in overseeing the National team in and outside Liberia, serving as Peace Ambassador and his key role played in ensuring the disarmament of ex-combatants in Liberia.
“I’m not talking about someone that does not respect the traditional moral practices of our country, I ‘m talking about George Manneh Weah. The one that spend more than three million dollars of his own money to manage LoneStar,” Morlu stated.
Meanwhile, Morlu has re-emphasized the CDC’s preparedness to stage its pre-campaign victory rally come Friday, October 6, 2017 which will see all of its supporters who he believe had been on loan to other political parties back to the CDC.