The National Patriotic Party (NPP), which was recently engulfed with a split in leadership after its national convention, has finally settled its in-house differences during a meeting that was characterized by heated arguments.
Like the Liberty Party (LP) scenario, the NPP had come from its Gbarnga convention with two factions: one led by James Biney and the other by Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor. There had been unresolved rift between the two leaders of the factions, with Biney claiming that VP Taylor was not the legitimate standard bearer of the party while VP Taylor recognized another individual, Cllr. Stanley Kpakline, as the legitimate Chairman of the party.
However, following months of disputes, VP Taylor has publicly recognized Senator James Biney as the legitimate Chairman of the party and Senator Biney, too, has reconciled that VP Taylor is the legitimate Standard Bearer of the party, brining all the issues to rest.
Vice President Taylor’s recognition of Biney comes days after a meeting with President George Weah who instructed the NPP to return to status quo ante and focus on the re-election of the Coalition in October 2023.
Speaking at the meeting, held at the NPP’s Tarr Town headquarters, Congo Town, on Thursday, January 12, 2022, Vice President Taylor said since the President made the request she does recognize the Maryland Senator as the Chairman.
Prior to settling the rift, when Senator James Biney was given the podium to make remarks he recognized NPP hierarchy members of the respective titles but only recognized Jewel Howard Taylor as Vice President of the Republic of Liberia. Immediately other leaders of the party, including Chief Cyril Allen, requested that he addressed her as the Standard Bearer, but he vehemently refused and insisted that he would not recognize the Vice President at Standard Bearer of the NPP until she recognizes him as Chairman and denounce Cllr. Stanley Kpakline as Chairman.
The matter was later resolved, and Senator Biney consented to recognizing her as the Standard Bearer of the party.
Also, Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor acknowledged that while she was part of the faction that elected Cllr. Kpakline, but based on President Weah’s intervention she no longer recognizes him as Chairman of the NPP.
Meanwhile, economist Sam Jackson has reaffirmed his membership with the NPP. Jackson stated that he has realized that no political party can win the October election without the NPP collaboration.
According to Jackson, despite leaving the party for a long period he has returned to ensure that the NPP becomes stronger in the Coalition and to make sure that President Weah is re-elected in the pending October elections.
