The Liberian People’s Party (LPP) is currently facing internal disagreements over its choice of candidate in the pending senatorial by-election in Nimba County.
Despite the party agreement of not fielding a candidate on its ticket in the election, a section of the party preferred to support the candidacy of independent candidate, Edith Gongloe-Weh, the political leader of the party.
While a vast majority of members of the National Executive Committee, who comprises County Chairmen and others are opposing the move—which they believed is being mastermind by the political leader.
It could be recalled Just hours after LPP’s Vice Chairperson, Stephen Ricks, over the weekend posted on social media that the party had unanimously agreed to endorse Madam Gongloe-Weh after a lengthy meeting that was held during the afternoon hours of March 28, at the party’s headquarters Congo town.
“The party has officially agreed to endorse Madam Gongole Weh for the pending Senatorial by-election in Nimba County which is slated for April 22,2025,” Ricks said in the post.
Partisans also agreed for the endorsement program of comrade Gongole Weh be held in Gompa city, next week after the party has concluded all arrangements with Madam Gongole Weh.
Hours after Ricks’ announcement, the NEC of the LPP released a statement on Sunday terming the information of Madam Gongloe-Weh pending endorsement as false and misleading.
The claim, the statement noted, is entirely false, deceptive, and undermines the integrity and credibility of the LPP.
“The National Executive Committee of the Liberian People’s Party strongly condemn the misleading information from Mr. Ricks, LPP Vice Chairman for Operation,” the statement, signed by the Chairman of the party, Major Tamba Samukai, noted.
He maintained, “The NEC of the LPP categorically refutes the recent pronouncement by Mr. Risk that the party has endorsed Madam Edith Gongloe Weh’s senatorial bid in Nimba County. This claim is entirely false, deceptive, and undermines the integrity and credibility of the LPP.”
Samukai indicated that the highest decision-making body, as per Article X Section I of the 1984 Constitution of the Party is the NEC or the National Congress of the Party, and at no time any of the two decided to endorse any candidate in the Nimba election.
“As a political party committed to transparency, respect for the rules of law, democratic values, and principled decision-making, we emphasize that any official endorsement of a candidate is to be made through the appropriate internal procedures and with the full consensus of the party leadership,” he said.
Samukai asserted, “At no point has the LPP endorsed Madam Gongloe Weh for the Senatorial race in Nimba County, and any suggestion to the contrary is a deliberate misrepresentation of our party’s stance.”
“We urge our members, supporters, and the general public to rely on official communications from the Party’s legitimate leadership regarding all political decisions and endorsements, and we remain steadfast in our mission to uphold the democratic process and will not allow any individual or group to misrepresent the party’s position for personal or political gain,” he added.
Meanwhile, many members of the LPP believe that their standard bearer is fueling the brewing internal wrangling within the party as he is influencing some top members to go his way instead of a consensus from the NEC.
Cllr. Gongloe had earlier issued a statement urging voters to support Gongloe-Weh, the only female candidate in the race. Edith is the younger sister to Cllr. Gongloe.
Gongloe, a native of Glehyee Zorpeaye in Yarwin-Mehnsonnoh District, emphasized the historical need for balanced representation in the Senate.
He pointed out that while the county’s upper districts have had Senate representation, districts like Yarwin-Mehnsonnoh and Gbelley Geh have yet to elect a senator, and argued that Gongloe-Weh, a former superintendent of Nimba, is the ideal candidate to address this imbalance and bring inclusivity to the county’s legislative representation.
In his statement, Gongloe highlighted the lack of female representation in the Nimba Legislative Caucus, and therefore called for Nimba to join neighboring counties like Bong, Grand Gedeh and Grand Bassa in electing a woman to the legislature.
He stressed that electing Gongloe-Weh would not only ensure geographic and gender balance, but also provide the county with a qualified and experienced leader.