The National Executive Committee (NAC) of the Liberty Party (LP) has announced the official suspension, with immediate effect, of its Political Leader, Senator Nyomblee Karnga-Lawrence; Vice Chair for Political Affairs, Senator Abraham Darius Dillon, Vice Chair for Press and Public Affairs, Daniel Sando; Vice Chair for Mobilization, Prince Toles; Vice Chair for Inter-Party and NEC Affairs, Augustine Fredricks; Vice Chair for Auxiliary Service, Agatius Coker; NAC member, Nathaniel Barnes; eminent partisan, Edith Gongloe-Weh; Legislative Caucus Members, Senator Steve Zargo, Senator Jonathan Kaipay and Representative Hans Barchue, and many others, for administrative reasons in line with its constitution.
The Liberty Party Executive Committee took the decision on Monday, December 6, 2021, and communicated its decision to the Chairman of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP), Ambassador Joseph N. Boakai, noting that, until otherwise notified, the persons under suspension are no longer authorized to act in any capacity on behalf of the LP.
The LP-NAC took its decision against its Political Leader for defaulting on her payments of due to the party for one-year consecutively, putting her in the position of not being in good standing with the party, thus prompting her suspension.
In a letter addressed to Senator Karnga-Lawrence from the National Executive Committee and signed by the National Chairman of the Party, Musa Hassan Bility, the party said its decision was predicated on the report from the National Treasurer which documented the due obligation and payment of party officials and it was revealed that the Grand Bassa County Senator was in arrears with the LP the total sum of US$18,000, calculated at US$1,500 per month and translated in 12 months of non-payment of the fees.
The party said the default on the part of the Political Leader was in violation of Article IX of the constitution of the party, which deals with the financial commitment of every member to the party.
Giving reliance on its decision, the party quoted Article IX, which says, “Persons accepted as members of the party shall pay a monthly membership fee as may from time to time be set by the NEC…Members in good standing are members whose membership dues are fully current and up to date…members who are not in good standing shall not be allowed to hold any office within the party, and if such member holds a position, elected or appointed, he/she shall be suspended by from the office by the NEC, until he or she shall have resumed the status of member in good standing. If after three months such member is still delinquent, he or she shall be permanently removed from the office, and they will also be expelled from the office.”
The party said during its National Executive Committee Retreat, which was held in Ganta City, Nimba County, on November 20, 2021, the NEC deliberated on the National Treasurer’s report and approved evoking Article IX for officials not in good standing by sending them a reminder letter about the status of their financial obligations.
“On November 22, 2021, a letter was sent to you indicating the balance owed on your account as United States 1,500 per month. This represents a total of United States 18,000 for the period January –December 2021. On December 1, 2021, the NEC approved the suspension of officials not in good standing. However, in deference to the office of the Political Leader, the NEC excepted on your suspension pending a second reminder being sent to enable you to remedy the delinquency. On December 2, 2021, a second letter was sent. To date, you have not remedied the delinquency nor have you responded to earlier communication. Given the above on December 6, 2021, the NEC approved your suspension,” the party said.
The party said, against the background of the breach of its constitutional provision by the Political Leader, the NEC, acting on a directive and in consistent with Article IX, has taken the decision to suspend Senator Karngar-Lawrence from her position as Political Leader and Legislative Caucus Member on the LP leadership and reminded her that, as per the constitution, she has a 90-day period to bring her account current, thereby putting her in good standing, and have her positions reinstated. “Upon the expiry of the ninety (90) day period, if remedy is not made, you may be permanently expelled from your positions. Please contact the National Treasurer during this period to make payment,” the letter concluded.
In similar measures, the party also announced the suspension of a number of key members which also came as a huge surprise to some political pundits. In addition to Senator Lawrence, the party said for administrative reason it has suspended Senators Abraham Darius Dillon, Steve Zargo, Jonathan Kaipay and Representative Hans Barchue.
In a tersely written letter addressed to Ambassador Joseph Nyumah Boakai, Chairman of the Collaborating Political Party (CPP), informing him of the decision, the party announced also the suspension of George Gaytube, County Chair, Grand Bassa; Eugene Tarr, County Secretary, Grand Bassa; Romeo Coker, County Chair, Montserrado; Augustine Nyormua, County Secretary, Montserrado; Daniel Sando, Vice Chair for Press and Public Affairs; Edith Gongloe-Weh, Eminent Partisan; and Debar Allen, NAC, Chair/NAC Rep to NEC.
Others are Jacob Smith, NAC member, Nathaniel Barnes, NAC member, Agatius Coker, Vice Chair, Auxiliary Service; Augustine Fredericks, Vice Chair, Inter-Party and NEC Affairs; and Prince Toles, Vice Chair for Mobilization.
Responding to the suspension on the OK FM Morning Rush on December 7, 2021, Montserrado County Senator, Darius Dillon, whose name was listed among suspended officials of the LP, quoted chapters of Genesis, in which he said God Himself got disappointed in His creation for their level of wickedness. He accused Musa of confirming to criminally altering the Liberty Party constitution to clothe unto himself with a level of authority that he does not deserve as Chairman.
According to him, it is not possible for him and the rest of the others to be suspended, because “Musa and his clique do not even constitute a quorum to do business, lest to mention suspending more than fifteen executive members of the party”.
“Before certain decisions are taken in the Liberty Party, two-thirds of a number of 31 executives is required, and Musa has never met two-thirds of anything,” Senator Dillon lambasted.
He noted that Musa Bility took over a peaceful Liberty Party only to drag it into chaos, only to pave the way for a George Weah second term. He said Bility’s Chairmanship has not made one issue-driven statement since its inception, and warned the Alternative National Congress (ANC) and Alexander Cummings not to allow Musa to use them to achieve his goal.
Also phoning in on the talk show, the Liberty Party Political Leader and Senator of Grand Bassa County, Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, said it is not possible for Bility’s “Executive Committee” to suspend her or even accuse her of owing due. According to her, she has sponsored the party on many occasions and, in fact, paid the rent of the party’s headquarters for years. “In Fact, Musa and the Liberty Party should be telling me ‘thank you’,” she said.