Consensus Building Process Very Much Mistaken By Political Party Executives: A Look At Political Manipulation And Disenfranchisement Of Liberian Eligible Voters

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The writer argues that certain major opposition political parties have developed what they call a “Consensus building process” in an attempt by executives of their political parties to select candidates of their choices for the National Legislature. Rather than conducting regular primaries involving qualified and eligible voters to elect candidates for party tickets for the National Legislature, these executives are instead selecting candidates outside the acceptable norms and regular primaries involving qualified and eligible voters. This is a disenfranchisement of Liberian voters.

The writer assets that the above procedure is not only undemocratic but a manipulative tendency aimed at denying the ordinary citizens and eligible voters their rights to plural political participation in a democratic setting such as emerging democracy in Liberia. Political parties are said to be governments in waiting and are expected to do the right things to enhance democracy.

The writer contends that if such undemocratic practice is left unchecked, it will crip into the electioneering process of Liberia whereby the eligible voters – voting masses will be disenfranchised and the end result will be a recipe for uncontrollable political chaos and conflicts prior to and during the election periods. This political odd should and must be corrected now than later.

This idea of “Consensus building process” and its application under review is in total violation of plural participation and democratic representation. It disrupts and undermines the tenets of democratic practices, principles, and representation in an emerging democracy such as ours.

The writer states that sub-regional, regional, continental, international community and friendly nations have invested and continue to invest immensely in expanding democratic representation in Liberia. However, certain major political parties want to thwart the efforts of enhancing, expanding, securing democracy, peace and security. Therefore, the writer further argues that it will be a disservice if the politically competent and enlightened minds will sit at the peripheral and allow the wrong things to go into effect to further undermine democracy and the rule of law.

Moreover, the writer calls on the National Elections Commission – NEC to disqualify any and all electioneering processes that contravene democratic tenets and citizens’ participation in the process. The writer further calls on the Press Union of Liberia – PUL to remain as a major institution in the education of voters regarding their rights in political discussions so that their voices can be heard. Any serious political party in waiting for political leadership never will allow party executives to select candidates on its party ticket without the inclusion and participation of eligible voters. This is the best practice that should and must be followed with good intentions. Otherwise, the process is unacceptable, undemocratic, wrong and diabolical. The election of candidates for party ticket (symbol) only can be done by qualified delegates through secret ballots not through selection by party executives and officials as has caused the writer to disagree with the undemocratic procedure. Democracy begins with political parties doing the right things. We demand that any party, party executives and officials found to be involved in this undemocratic and unprincipled procedures to desist with immediate effect.

Additionally, the writer requests international organizations with vested interests in electioneering processes and doing business with the NEC to stand tough against any political party that is found to be involved in such undemocratic practices and procedures. We call on informed and ordinary citizens to criticize and condemn any political party so involved and or would be involved in such undemocratic procedures. The maintenance and security of Liberia’s democracy is our collective responsibility.

Furthermore, the writer calls on international institutions: International Foundation for Electoral Systems – IFES, National Democratic Institute – NDI, the Carter Center, Economic Community of West African States – ECOWAS, African Union- AU, European Union – EU, United Nations – UN, friendly nations and partners in progress to reassure the Liberian people about free, fair, transparent, accountable and credible elections acceptable to all parties. All of this will begin with and from intraparty and interparty electoral processes.

The writer maintains that public trust and confidence in any political party wishing for political leadership begins with citizens’ rights to participate in free and fair elections concerning electoral votes at party level. The writer says that where citizens are deliberately denied and excluded from vetting or voting process for elected candidates, such process is undemocratic and should not be encouraged in an emerging democracy such as Liberia. In particular, political parties have responsibilities of enhancing, expanding, securing and defending democracy by just doing the right things.

The writer emphasizes that IFES, NDI, Carter Center, ECOWAS, AU, EU, UN amongst others work to support and strengthen democracy and democratic institutions around the globe. It’s therefore a collective responsibility of the supra organizations to condemn in totality this undemocratic procedure. Citizens’ participation in elections, debates, democratic governance, political inclusion of marginalized groups cannot be overemphasized. The writer believes that citizens’ participation in intraparty consensus building process will strengthen and assure women’s full participation, enhance democracy, peace and security.

Additionally, the writer echoes that it’s better to discourage and vehemently condemn in the strongest terms possible the undemocratic electioneering practices being developed by unscrupulous political parties, politically feeble, and ill-prepared political party executives. We need to stop the crippling undemocratic procedure into our emerging democracy now then later. This will put in check those unscrupulous political actors, parties and executives that are bent on direct destruction of democracy. Rather than resolving costly political chaos and conflicts now and in the months ahead, the writer contends that it’s incumbent upon all well-meaning Liberians and friends of Liberia to condemn in the strongest terms the unfolding undemocratic procedures. We’ll resist firmly any undemocratic procedure in our quest for citizens’ participation, democratic dispensation and representation. We’re here to reform and transform Liberia in the best possible political environment of level playground for all citizens, eligible voters and candidates. Democratization in Liberia cannot and will not be politically comprised for selfish gains at the detriment of the less informed and poor masses.

The writer concludes by saying that – nothing will deter their efforts of correcting undemocratic, unprincipled and irresponsible practices in the electioneering process now and in the forthcoming Presidential and Legislative Elections.

About The Writer:

Pero M. K. Kerkula is a contributing member of the Academy of Political Science, New York; former instructor of public administration at the University of Liberia (UL); a former lecturer in service learning and community development at the United Methodist University (UMU); and former Student Leader at Ibrahim Badamase Babangida Graduate School of International Studies at the University of Liberia (UL). He was a delegate to the International Peace Conference on Liberia (June 22—August 18, 2003), held in Akosombo, Accra, Ghana.

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