By Bill W. Cooper
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Liberia People’s Party (LPP) has with immediate effect, suspended its national chairperson, J. Yanqui Zaza, for time indefinite pending investigation by the party’s Grievance and Ethics Committee.
The party’s NEC said its decision is in-line with the party’s 1984 constitution, and asserted, ” This action is consistent with Article X and Section I and in line with the National Committee first sitting since the election of the current officials of the National Executive Committee at the May 6, 2022.”
The LPP’s Grievance and Ethic Committee was established by the body in keeping with the Party’s Constitution and the National Election Commission Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties.
Chairman Zaza’s suspension comes in the wake of allegation after he allegedly and unilaterally tried to suspend some party officials including its National Vice Chairperson for Recruitment and Mobilizations, Tamba Samukai.
However, the sitting, which witnessed the suspension of Chairman Zaza, took place at the LPP headquarters, in the presence of the chairpersons of the various county congresses representing the Executive Committees of the various counties and the constitutional membership of the National Committee.
During the meeting, the party cited that the National Chairman’s suspension was also based on his deliberate refusal to attend the sitting or provide any excuse to the body.
They also accused him of trying to deliberately undermine, impede, and obstruct the sitting of the National Committee by unconstitutionally trying to remove some chairpersons of county congresses and the national youth chairman.
Others are the national vice chairman of recruitment and mobilization, national women chairlady, coupled with spreading false information about the intent of the sitting, and maliciously maligning the reputation of members of the National Committee.
The NEC added, “The LPP also admonishes all its partisans, well-wishers, sympathizers, relevant institutions, and the public to cease from transacting any official business of the party with the suspended Chairman Zaza until further notice from the party.”
“The Party will not be held responsible for any act or commit to any contract or agreement made between any institution or individual with the suspended National Chairman Zaza,” the NEC added.
Meanwhile, the LPP’s EC has also appointed its National Vice Chairman for Recruitment and Mobilization, Tamba Samukai as Acting Chairman of the party up to the National Congress scheduled for March 28, 2025.
The party also concluded on the establishment of a five-person Grievance and Ethics Committee for the speedy investigation of the National Chairman and the resolution of other minor issues within the party.
An Audit Committee to audit the 2023 Presidential Campaign Financial transactions was also established including the establishment of a National Retreat Committee, and the approval of the March 26 and 28, for holding an emergency sitting of the National Congress.
The NEC further called for the summoning of the National Campaign Chairman to a meeting with members of the National Committee to discuss the Party’s Preparedness for the upcoming 2029 Presidential and Legislative Elections.
And that the National Executive Committee make available all documents requested for in the official request to convene a sitting of the National Committee for another meeting of the National Congress.
In response to the appointment, Samukai called for reconciliation and unity among party members including the aggrieved, something he said would help revive and restore the party’s lost image ahead of the 2029 general elections.
“We must put aside our differences and work together for the greater good of our party and our country. The people of Liberia are counting on us to provide a viable alternative to the current administration,” he added.
