As by-elections for senator and representative seats are set in Nimba County and Grand Gedeh County’s district #1,Representative Samuel Kogar has publicized that he will contest for the senatorial seat in Nimba County; writes Ojuku Silver-tongue Kangar, Jr.
Representative Kogar, who is currently serving his third term as a legislator of Nimba County’s district #5, said he was petitioned by the constituents of Nimba County, and especially by the electorate of his mother’s chiefdom.
The National Elections Commission (NEC) will conduct by-elections in two counties, Nimba County and Grand Gedeh County’s district #1 on April 24, 2024 to fill the vacant seats of former senator Jeremiah K. Koung, now Vice President of Liberia, and deceased Representative Erol Madison Gwion, who passed on after he won the election in 2023.
According to information, Representative Kogar’s decision to contest the senatorial race did not come from himself, as some are claiming, but from a notable electorate.
“What has prompted my decision derived from the constituents of Nimba County. They feel I am capable to represent Nimba County at the Senate level because I serve at the Legislature, mainly as representative, for three terms,” Representative Kogar said to journalists at the Tod Dahn Guest House in Soul Clinic after a brief meeting and presenting kola to his mother chiefdom’sfamily. “Today there is vacuum created, and the Nimba people said they need an experienced person to go and represent them at the Senate level.”
Due to the constituent’s petition and caveat to him, Representative Kogar said he is courageous to contest in the by-election, and he will emerge victoriously because he has no contender as along as he is in the race.
“I have been approached, and there was a caveat signed to me that any attempt for me to deny or refuse their (constituent) request I should be considered not a politician in Liberia anymore,” the Representative said.
After a consultation during the meeting, he represented kola to the elders and citizens of Leeslum Chiefdom to be taken to the citizens of that part of Nimba County as acceptance of their petition. Representative Kogar’s mother is from the Mano tribe, while his father from the Gio tribe, making him bilingual.
In a pre-victory tone, Representative Kogar vowed to exhibit accessible leadership at the Senate level if he wins, informing that, for third term serving as Representative, his residence is not fenced, which makes it easy for people to access him.
On behalf of the citizens of Leeslum and KarwayChiefdom, Elder Augustine S. Megh, Sr. said they were happy hearing their son seeking their blessings to ascend to a higher level.
Defending Representative Kogar’s competence to rise at the Senate level, Elder Megh said he is developmental, people-centered, and so on; therefore, his request will be taken to the other Nimbaians so that they can rally behind him to win the senatorial race.
The by-elections will be held simultaneously in the two counties, according to NEC.