By: Frank P. Martin
MONROVIA: The embattled Chairman of the National Patriotic Party (NPP) and Senator of Maryland County, James Biney, has threatened to file a legal complaint to the Board of Commissioners of the National Elections Commission (NEC), against the NPP—a constituent party of the governing Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC)—for what he calls his “illegal expulsion” from the party.
The latest challenge by the embattled Chairman followed the party’s National Executive Committee meeting held over the weekend.
The NPP NEC accused Biney of “impersonating as National Chair of the party and making public declaration of support to the opposition Unity Party.”
But, in reaction to the party’s decision, on Monday, June 26, 2023, the Maryland County Senator said the decision by the NPP Executive Committee to have him expelled is unconstitutional and violates his right as well as the right of partisans and delegates who voted him as Chairman of the NPP.
“In the soonest possible time, I will file an official complaint to the Board of Commissioners of the NEC in relations to this effect. The decision by the Executive Committee of our Party doesn’t have any legal backing for which I should be removed as national chairman of the party,” Sen. Biney said during an interview with OK FM.
Though he did not name any provision in the NPP constitution that protects him as legitimate Chairman, Biney said, he remains the National Chairman of the NPP.
“I remain the National Chairman of the National Patriotic Party and nothing can change that. If there is any reason for my removal as Chairman, it should be done at a national convention as it was done during my election as Chairman of the party,” he averred.
The Maryland County Lawmaker disclosed that certain individuals in the Party have been targeting him for his belief that incumbent President George Manneh Weah will have nothing substantial to offer the people of Maryland because the President’s first term has not benefited the people of Maryland and Liberia, therefore, there is no need to rally for his second term bid.
“We will have to be sincere to ourselves and sincere to those we lead as leaders. I told my party’s leadership that the agreement we had with the Congress for Democratic Change had expired and there is no need to renew it. CDC failed to listen to us after the 2017 elections for full implementation of the agreement signed in order to collectively and holistically provide governance of the state and they are doing their own things, so what the essence?” he questioned.
Biney, who joined several lawmakers on Capitol Hill on May 16, 2023, when hundreds of the Legislative staff endorsed the candidacy of former Vice President Joseph N. Boakai, clarified during the interview that, though he has been seen on many occasions with the JNB “Rescue Team”, his decision to support any political party or individual candidate for the pending Legislative and Presidential elections, remains unknown as member of the NPP.
“While it is true I have been with the Unity Party at different functions but I remain member of the National Patriotic Party. If will I support anyone for the Presidency, I will do so very soon, and in the best interest of the state,” he declared.
The NPP also threatened to file a lawsuit against Biney.
In a release issued Friday, June 23, 2023, the party recounted that on Saturday, June 17, 2023, its National Executive Committee convened a National Executive Committee Meeting during which they deliberated on crucial issues.
It added that the meeting focused on deciding the fate of Senator Biney whose conduct and utterances the NPP claims, have continued to embarrass the party.
The release added that Biney has been impersonating as National Chair of the party and making public declaration of support to the opposition Unity Party.
However, the NPP said after long hours of deliberation, it was established that Senator Biney’s conduct runs contrary and counter-productive and in violation of section 2.9 of the party’s by-laws constitution.
The release stressed that the body voted with over 2/3 majority to expel Senator James Biney from the party.
NPP warned him to desist from making public utterances in the name of the party.
It added that any repeated act of such by him will lead the party with no alternative, but to seek litigation against him in a court of competent jurisdiction.
Interestingly, following the National Patriotic Party’s decision, more than 1,000 NPP members signed new resolution, reaffirming James Biney as the legitimate chairman of the NPP.
In the resolution, the NPP Partisans said Biney is the only constitutionally elected Chairman of the NPP.
The resolution said the “so-called expulsion” was allegedly carried out by the Jewel Howard Taylor appointed executive committee with no basis.
