The Standard Bearer of the Grassroots Development Movement (GDM), Edward Appleton, says his message resonated amongst Liberians.
Sharply countered critics who believe that he did not deserve the number of votes accumulated during the just ended October 10 General Elections, he said his style of campaigning was done door-to-door.
According to him, while the supposedly big parties were looking for crowds and filling stadium, his party was in rural Liberia talking to people one-on-one, stating “We were talking and delivering our message, which fell on good grounds. We campaigned, Jehovah Witness Style. And although we are not in the top two spots, we are in the position to play a key role in the upcoming runoff election.”
Appleton, the newest boy on the Liberian political block without a noticeable constituency, shocked everyone by coming top against Cummings in the presidential race, thus securing the third place, behind President George Weah and former vice president, Joseph Boakai, who are expected to face each other in the run-off in mid-November.
According to the final results announced by the National Elections Commission (NEC) yesterday, October 24, 2023, in Monrovia, Appleton obtained 40,271 votes, amounting to 2.20 percent, compared to Alexander Cummings of the CPP’s 29,613, amounting to 1.61 percent of the total votes cast.
But addressing a major news conference on Tuesday, in Monrovia, the GDM leader described the assertion as a ‘mere day-dreaming’, noting, “I first must thank God for his Grace and blessings. They say I am a ghost; I’m not. They say our party was setup to disrupt the electoral process; This is not true. They say we have endorsed a candidate for the ensuing runoff; this also is not true because we have not.”
“We would like to thank the Liberian people, especially the Grassroots people, for their confidence reposed in us. They say that I as the Standard Bearer of GDM has unceremoniously left the country; It’s false and misleading. I’m here,” he said.
The GDM leader further indicated that their decision to endorse must be based on a clear understanding of what the Liberian people want, adding that they are praying for wisdom to make a decision that will make the Liberian people, and those who will vote in the future, proud.
He also mentioned that they are not going to be lookers, but they will fully participate in the democratic dispensation of a second-round elections, and asserted that GDM intends to work hard to change the paradigm, which will bring about generational change in the not-too-distant future.
Appleton emphasized, “With the enthusiasm shown by the Liberian people in the first round in electing their leaders, it exhibited pertinently that the Liberian people believe in democracy and good governance.”
