The crisis rocking the opposition Liberty Party (LP) seems to be far from over, as the County Council of the Bility-led Liberty Party, comprising of County Chairpersons of the fifteen political subdivisions of the country, has described the meeting called and presided by Senator Nyonblee Karngar-Lawrence to expel Musa Hassan Bility and Martin Kollah, National Chairman and Secretary General, respectively, as illegal and unconstitutional, noting that it was in full knowledge that Senators Karnga-Lawrence, Abraham Darius Dillon, Steve Zargo and Jacob Smith were all suspended from their positions after their refusal to pay dues as required by the LP Constitution since December 22, 2021.
In a press release, signed by Ballah Bue (Bomi County), Daniel Z. Buleekpah (Margibi), Daniel Gbasagee (Rivercess), Gaspa Momolu (Grand Cape Mount), Jefferson Gbaryan (Bong) and Augustine Wiah (Sinoe), the group said it categorically distanced itself from any and all meetings/activities organized, called or that will be called by the suspended political leader while under suspension, and that any decision coming out of meetings called by the suspended PL has no magnitude whatsoever, as she lacks the constitutional authority.
“It is becoming a shame and embarrassment that Senator Karnga-Lawrence, Senator Dillon, Senator Zargo and their likes, who have benefited from our votes as a party to give them well-paid jobs, will think about only themselves and their children,” the statement said.
“Since their suspension, the suspended PL and a handful of officials continue to undermine the unity of the party, by bringing our party to public ridicule and downplaying the general interest of the party. These handful of disloyal partisans continue to support the suspended political leader who is selfishly fueling the division of the party and partisans”, the statement further said.
The group gave legal backings to its support for the Bility-led faction and denouncing the posture of Senator Karnga-Lawrence and her group by relying on the decision by the National Elections Commission (NEC) to confirm that the 2021 notarized constitution of the party remains the authentic document until it is successfully challenged or amended, as well as referencing the August 23, 2021 letter addressed to Senator Lawrence in which the NEC stated, “In keeping with the practice and procedure here at the NEC, when a party, especially through its Chairperson and/or Secretary General, submits a notarized document, such as a constitution, to the Commission, the general presumption is that the said document is proper and remains as such until successfully challenged in keeping with due process or amended by the Party.”
“The confirmation by the NEC was welcomed by the Liberty Party as it effectively denounces all claims that the suspended PL, and her handful of other suspended officials, have made publicly, that the LP Constitution was ‘withdrawn’, the statement said.
“The suspended PL attempt to nullify the January 2021 Special National Convention that witnessed our participation as county leaders was mind bugging, undemocratic and autocratic. Even our founding father Cllr. Charles Walker Brumskine (May his soul rest in peace) never at any point in time ever thought about exercising such undemocratic and autocratic tendencies in his line of duty as political leader. What Senator Lawrence has seen to have forgotten is that the illegal sitting she called in Buchanan does not exist in the LP constitution any longer. So the Council believed that the meeting in Buchanan called by the suspended political leader was Kangar’s family meeting and nothing more”, the group said further.
The council said it was informing all partisans and well-wishers of LP that it stands with the legally constituted body of LP led by Chairman Musa Hassan Bility and recognized by the National Elections Commission (NEC) and further called on Senator Lawrence, Senator Zargo, Jacob Smith and all those suspended officials of the party to endeavor to settle their dues obligations and desist from impersonating and falsehood. It said in the same vein, the National Elections Commission should act accordingly in line with its regulations to stop these self-seeking and political anti-democratic individuals from impersonating in capacities that they do not occupy.
“The County Council assures partisans and well-wishers that, as leaders of our respective counties, we will do everything in our power to protect the LP constitution and the legacy of their founding fathers. We therefore encourage all partisans to denounce the lawlessness, undemocratic and autocratic tendencies exhibited by the suspended political leaders and her handful of supporters as LP has been and is known to be a party that respects the Law”, the council concluded.
It can be recalled that over the weekend the faction of the party, led by Senator Nyonblee Karngar-Lawrence, convened what it called a Special Session of the National Executive Council in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, and took some decisions, including the expulsion of Bility and Kollah and the suspension of other members of the national executive council and county chairpersons who they claimed continue to aid and abet Bility and Kollah against the party, confirming the nomination of Senator Karnga-Lawrence as Vice Chair for Legislative Affairs on the NEC.
Other decisions included the holding of a special national convention sometime this year in any of the cities in the country and the putting in place of a financial plan to support the party.