The former ruling Unity Party (UP) was touted to be the favorite in the days leading to the holding by-election in Lofa County based on results from previous elections that went its way primarily due to the influence of former Vice President Joseph Nyumah Boakai. The Tuesday, June 28, 2022 polls results saw a shocking twist with the victory of Cllr. Joseph Jallah, an independent candidate who was heavily supported by the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC).
The election came as a result of the Supreme Court of Liberia holding former Defense Minister Brownie Samukai criminally liable for stealing funds belonging to the Armed Forces of Liberia after he won the 2020 senatorial election in the county.
In the aftermath of the shocking result from the June 28, 2022 polls, former Vice President Boakai told a news conference that the process was marred by flaws and “errors pruned”.
The former Liberian Vice President called for the total dissolution of the entire Board of the National Elections Commission (NEC) on grounds that the body was not representative of the “interest of the Liberian people and the late publication of the voter’s roll.”
Former Vice President Boakai’s statement has drawn ire from Revolutionary National Youth League of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change to the effect that the largest auxiliary group of the ruling party has described it as a symptom of desperation coming from shocking waves sent down the spine of the former ruling party’s Standard Bearer.
“This display of extreme desperation on the part of the deceptive leader of the late Unity Party, former Vice President Joseph N. Boakai, was earlier detected when he threatened, ahead of the by-election, that any denial of the late Unity Party the opportunity to put forth a candidate in the elections would have led the country into chaos. Hence, his unsubstantiated claim of election malpractices before and during the 2022 Lofa by-election is a classic show of HATE for the courageous and cultural Gbandi people whose son has unquestionably won the elections and his extreme desire to destabilize this country, the RNYL-CDC told a press conference in Monrovia.
According to the ruling party’s Youth League, the ruling party lost two elections in Montserrado County in 2019 and 2020 to the opposition but muster the courage to congratulate the winners -a testament to President George Manneh Weah’s unflinching commitment to upholding the tenets of Democracy even in face of losing an election that he so eagerly wanted to win.
The Youth League says it sees the former ruling Unity Party statement as a deception considering the fact that it praised the very Election Commission when the candidate of the opposition was declared winner in Montserrado twice.
“By the statement, Boakai has unclothed his desperation for power and disrespect for the mandate of the resilient people of Lofa. The Youth League wants to remind former VP Boakai and his failed Unity Party that Liberia is enjoying a democracy straightened by the stewardship of H.E Dr. George M. Weah where one group of people cannot always expect to be the winners even in the face of glaring indications that they have been rejected by the people as it was done in the recent Lofa by-election. Mr. Boakai and his failed party should muster the courage to stop threatening the fledging peace and democracy, and stop sowing seeds among the great sons and daughters of Lofa county. We want to recognize the maturity exhibited by his fellow opposition leader Mr. Alexander B. Cummings of the Alternative National Congress who has congratulated the senator elect,” the group emphasized.
The RNYL-CDC pointed out that the posture exemplified by the former Liberian Vice President denotes a desperation for power that would pose danger to Liberia’s nascent democracy and peace as the country moves towards the general and presidential elections in 2023. Even though the Youth League is convinced that the Liberian people are tired of conflict and will not relent in rallying themselves in defense nce of the motherland when the need arises.
“In conclusion, the Revolutionary National Youth League of the Mighty Coalition for Democratic Change announces a strategic appreciation assembly of the people to celebrate the popular people’s mandate of Lofa under the guarded leadership of the Executive Committee of the RNYL.
