By Bill W. Cooper
Several residents of Montserrado County District 2 have accused their District lawmaker, Jimmy W. Smith of recruiting over 30 young Liberians to form a group dubbed, “The Jimmy Elections Militants Force” ahead of the 2023 elections.
According to them, the decision by their lawmaker is intended to prevent Muslims of the District from participating in the upcoming Biometric Voter Registration Process (BVR) and the October 10 polls in the country.
In an exclusive interview yesterday, Jerry S. Williams on behalf of the residents further accused the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) lawmaker of using his legislative and political influence to incite electoral violence, something he described as “scaring and unwholesome” for the country’s peace and democracy.
Williams also disclosed about a secret meeting that was held and presided over on Sunday, October 5, 2023 by the lawmaker CSO, Alfred D. Togba along with the CDC former youth Chair, Thomas D. Roberts at the Representative Smith’s residence.
Although the intent and content of the meeting is yet to be established; this paper was also informed that the planned meeting was intended to mobilize and financially aid the recruited young Liberians ahead of the electoral process scheduled for October of this year.
Accordingly, Williams also alleged that the meeting was called to establish what is being described as “The Jimmy Elections Militants Force” with the responsibility to recruit and mobilize youths in over 30 communities from across the district.
“This is really troubling because as to what we have gathered so far, these people are being recruited, trained and financially supported to intimidate, harass and restrict our people from participating in the upcoming BVR potential key areas of the district like the Amagashie, Black Geni, St. Francis, and Jacob Town Communities that are predominantly occupied by Muslims,” he said.
According to him, their decision to flag or alarm the situation is based on the country’s ugly past and its history of electoral violence, indicating that the establishment of such group will only cause more chaos and confusion amongst residents of the district.
Williams added, “It is not just the district but the country as a whole because if anything sparks up in those areas that we have listed, which are occupied by Muslims, we believed it will also have a negative effect on the country’s upcoming elections and its fragile peace.”
Meanwhile, Jerry S. Williams at the same time also called on the National Elections Commission (NEC) and the security apparatus to speedily intervene and investigate the matter so as to avoid any form of chaos in the country.
“I’m earnestly calling on the NEC and the Liberia National Police to do their utmost to ensure that the right things are done in this district by not allowing the interference of extended forces that will bring about chaos for our people,” he pleaded.
