A barrage of former legislative candidates in Gbarpolu County, led by former senatorial candidate, Paul Koulboi Kennedy, over the weekend endorsed President George M. Weah for the November 14, 2023 presidential run-off election, bringing the county close to a win for the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC).
Two senatorial candidates, Paul Koulboi Kennedy, who obtained over 5,000 votes, and Alfred Koiwood, with over 9,000 votes, and several representative candidates, including Titus Kamara, Jomah Scott and Fatu Sheriff Schmidt, endorsed the re-election of President Weah and Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor. The only prominent candidate who was not part of the endorsement was Amara Konneh, senator-elect of the county who has endorsed Ambassador Joseph N. Boakai of the Unity Party (UP).
Vice President Howard-Taylor received the endorsement on behalf of President Weah in Bopolu city.
In the October 10 election, Gbarpolu County turned out to be a battleground county, with the UP claiming the county with 16,703 votes while the CDC trailed by 15,247 votes, with a margin of 1,456 votes. With the recent endorsement by the legislative candidates, political pundits are saying that the CDC chances of winning the county in the run-off is highly likely.
In addition to Gbarpolu County, the CDC is said to be making frantic effort in Margibi, Bomi and Montserrado counties, unleashing their political giants to handle the campaign activities in these counties for the run-off. While Senator-elect, Nathaniel McGill, and Senator Emmanuel Nuquay are joining forces to ensure that Margibi falls to the blue revolution, Senator-elect Saah Joseph is expounding the CDC platform in Montserrado County, with several representatives-elect and defeated candidates endorsing the President.
On Saturday, November 4, 2023, about twelve candidates of Montserrado County’s district #17 endorsed President Weah, in addition to Montserrado County’s district #3 Representative-elect, Patrick Komoyan. It is expected that former district #6 Representative Candidate and former Miss Liberia, Wokie Dolo, will on today, Tuesday, November 7, 2023 endorse President Weah and VP Taylor for the run-off.
Dolo’s endorsement is an addition to the recent endorsement made by over thirty (30) former female candidates in Montserrado County, which also brings the county to a near-win for the CDC.
The Unity Party (UP) won Montserrado County with less than 3,000 votes on October 10, but the vigor in the CDC campaign toward the run-off could twist the tide.
The All Liberian Coalition Party (ALCOP) Nimba Chapter has also endorsed the reelection bid of President Weah. The endorsement complements those made by Representatives-elect Musa Hassan Bility and Taa Wongbe, as well as that of Edith Gongloe-Weh, sister to the Standard Bearer of the Liberian People’s Party (LPP), Cllr. Tiawan Saye Gongloe, who recently endorsed Ambassador Boakai.
Interestingly, amidst the political warfare in all the UP-controlled territories, the CDC still maintains the strongest grip of the southeastern counties, as the UP has only made a strong venture in Grand Bassa County. In fact, the Pro-Tempore of the Liberian Senate, Albert Chie, who was elected with over 82% of the total vote cast of Grand Kru County, as well as Deputy Speaker Fonati Kofa, have initiated the “Weah 100% Boakai 0%” campaign in the southeast. This, according to information, is intended to further dampen the chances of the Unity Party in that part of the country.
