CDC Not Fielding Candidate In Grand Cape County By-election

By Alex Yomah

 Barely  a month  to  the unexpected  defeat of the  ruling  Coalition for  Democratic Change (CDC)  in what appeared to be  its stronghold  in Montserrado County Senatorial By-election,  the  National  Executive Committee (NEC), has  with immediate effect dropped  its desire  to field any candidate  from  the pending Senatorial  By-election in Grand Cape Mount  County –while  announcing  a 15-man formation of a  strategic Recovery  Committee to probe cause of the  party’s shocking defeat. 

The Coalition National Chairperson, Mulbah K. Morlu, addressing news conference on Friday, disclosed that CDC will not field any candidate in the pending By-election.

 Mr. Morlu  said  the party’s decision not to field any  candidate is based on the ongoing  investigation into the Montserrado electoral experience   to  know what  went  wrong so as to  put in place proper mechanisms  to avoid  the repeat of the  such  defeat in  2020 nationwide Senatorial elections.

“The CDC is conducting a thorough investigation into Montserrado’s electoral experience and based on this backdrop, the leadership of CDC will not field a candidate in the Grand Cape Mount County Senatorial By-election,” Morlu said.

 Morlu said, “The party pursues its path to recovery, and as such, we shall remain focused on a cohesive rebuilding strategy, include efforts aimed at strengthening the unity of the coalition and accompanied alliances, and adopt programs and policies that target the economic and academic empowerment of young cadres and members of the tripartite Coalition for Democratic Change.”  

Meanwhile, the party rejected unfounded and an attempt to use two of the party’s senior officials as scapegoats by Police Inspector General, Col. Patrick Sudue. 

 Morlu said Col. Sudue’s comments made at the Liberian Senate hearing that officials of CDC were invited to an investigation into allegations of manhandling of Police Deputy Director Marvin Sackor, the party refutes such information provided by the Police I.G.

The CDC national Chairperson said, the CDC, neither its officials received any letter of invitation, or calls from the Police, especially in regards to an ongoing investigation.

 Morlu clarified that  upon news  of this troubling revelation by the Inspector General , “Immediately  I placed  a  dozen of unanswered calls to the Police Inspector General, only to lie that “ We [police] wrote  you but people at your office returned the letter because your name was misspelled”  the CDC in response, said, “Director’s excuses  support the premises  of a blatant  lie”

 Morlu informed members of the Liberian Senate to again summon Col. Sudue for lying under oath. According to the party, Col. Patrick Sudue should show return that an official of his party received and returned it due to misspelled name as he portrayed it to be during the hearing.   

 He said the CDC does not support any acts of violence especially against law enforcement officers, as such the party would have immediately responded had the police written or even placed a simple call. Any invitation for appearance before the police will be graciously honored, he added, “The Director General’s insinuation that officials of the party are under investigation based on an extended invitation from the police, must be treated seriously because such comments are baselessly unfounded.

According to the accused, CDC rejects the Inspector General’s scapegoating approach to fighting crime as unfortunate, reprehensible and contemptible that he would lie under oath before the Honorable Senate is not only a grave failure, but a commission of perjury that unravels his incompetence as a Police Inspector General.           

At the same time, Mulbah Morlu has called  on the Liberia National Police Inspector  to retract  his statement made against the  two officials of the ruling party or else, will have no alternative but to test the law.