By Precious D. Freeman
Former Deputy Commerce Minister Jemima Wolokollie has called on the people of Nimba County to “vote wisely” in the much-anticipated senatorial by-election set for April 22, 2025.
Speaking on Sky F.M, Wolokollie described the vote as a critical litmus test for the county ahead of the 2029 general and presidential elections.
“Nimba is a political powerhouse,” she asserted, citing the county’s historical significance in producing presidential candidates, including former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (2011), former President George M. Weah (2017), and current President Joseph N. Boakai (2023).
The by-election follows the death of longtime Senator Prince Y. Johnson, who passed away on November 29, 2024.
The National Elections Commission (NEC) has approved several contenders vying to fill the vacancy. Among them are Edith Gongloe-Weh, sister of former presidential hopeful Cllr. Tiawan Saye Gongloe; Mack Gblinwon of the Citizens Movement for Change (CMC); George Gonpu of the African Democratic Movement (ADM); former Representative Richard Matenonkay Tingba of VOLT; Representative Samuel Kogar of District 5; and independent candidate T. Wonokay Fangalo.
Wolokollie, who contested the Montserrado County Senate seat in the 2020 midterm elections, endorsed Representative Samuel Kogar and his party, the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR).
She took aim at fellow candidate Edith Gongloe-Weh, criticizing what she described as opportunistic engagement with the electorate.
“My sister Edith Gongloe-Weh does not deserve the trust of the people of Nimba. She only shows up when elections are near. That’s unacceptable,” Wolokollie said.
She emphasized that Liberia’s future depends on leaders with a deep sense of commitment and integrity—not those she claims are motivated solely by political ambition.
Turning her attention to the ongoing leadership crisis at the Capitol Building, Wolokollie accused Bomi County Senator Edwin M. Snowe of influencing House Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa through his ties with Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene Gyapay Youh.
“What’s happening on Capitol Hill is political,” she declared. “Cllr. Koffa should have worked with his colleagues to resolve the matter internally. But we now await the Supreme Court’s ruling.”
Wolokollie urged all stakeholders to respect the Court’s decision once rendered, stressing the importance of stability and national unity.
“This country belongs to all of us,” she said. “We must put Liberia first.”