Big split has engulfed the Collaborating Political Party (CPP) over a plan by some members of the parties to take a bloc-vote during the pending primary, which is to produce the standard bearer of the CPP ahead of the 2023 general elections.
On Saturday, September 11, 2021, an executive of the Unity Party (UP) endorsed Ambassador Joseph N. Boakai as their choice for the CPP upcoming primary. The Saturday ceremony was also graced by the political leaders of the All Liberian Party (ALP), Beoni Urey, Liberty Party (LP), Senator Nyonblee-Karnga Lawrence, who is also Chairperson of CPP.
Unity Party is pushing for bloc voting where a single person will go to the ballot box and cast one vote through a resolution for the preferable candidate. The bloc-voting plan has been bought by some member parties of the CPP. The Political Leader of the ANC, Alexander B. Cummings, is totally against the bloc voting and on Saturday turned down the invitation extended him by the UP.
On Monday, September 13, 2021, ANC Cummings informed the public in a press conference that his opposition to issues within the CPP does not in any way means he has left the CPP. He reaffirmed his commitment to remaining with the CPP, but urged his colleagues to respect the framework document.
Also speaking in Monrovia on Monday, a stalwart of the Liberty Party (LP), Martin Kola, said the bloc voting process is totally against the framework document of the CPP, especially section 9.2. According to him, the process is undemocratic and also against the law governing election in the country.
The ANC Political Leader, Cummings, on Friday, September 10, 2021 walked out of the Collaborating Political Party’s meeting in protest of his disagreement to the decision made by the political leaders of the opposition Collaborating Political Parties against the framework document.
According to ANC Cummings, the decision of the political leaders to extend the tenure of the CPP Chairperson, Senator Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, for one month is totally against the framework document of the CPP. He explained that there is no section of the framework document that calls for the extension of tenure of the collaboration chairperson and, therefore, allowing it is a complete violation of the framework document.
The CPP last Friday meeting was intended to discuss several issues, including the extension of the Chairperson tenure for one month or more. The tenure of the CPP Chairperson, Senator Lawrence, is expected to end before the ending of 2021. In accordance with the framework document, the chairperson position should be turned over to another political leader of the CPP—after every eight months.
In a communication addressed to CPP Chairperson, Senator Lawrence, on Friday after Cummings’ walkout action, ANC said the decision of the political leader does not in any way suggest that the ANC is leaving the collaboration. The letter further indicated that the decision of the political leader to walk out of the meeting is aimed at protecting the framework document.
Senator Lawrence told reporters on Friday after the failed meeting that her office as chairperson will apply all effort to bring back Cummings to conclude on the discussion. She said Cummings’ decision to walk out is part of democracy, and will be resolved.
Cummings recently wrote the CPP Chairperson informing her about the violation of the framework document, in the quest to extend her tenure for one month. Though the ANC Political Leader was part of the meeting in which they agreed on the extension of tenure, he has registered his opposition to the decision.
The CPP comprises of Unity Party (UP), Liberty Party (LP), All Liberian Party (ALP) and the Alternative National Congress (ANC).