By: H. Richard Fallah
MONROVIA: As Liberians prepare for the October 10, 2023 Presidential and Legislative elections, two (2) major contending political groups including the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) and the opposition Unity Party (UP) have demonstrated what many considered a show of leadership during this crucial campaign period.
Prior to the official campaign launch of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), on Thursday, September 7, 2023, the Unity Party (UP), through its National Campaign Team, issued a statement, informing its supporters that all campaign activities of UP in Montserrado County were suspended.
UP noted that its decision to cancel all campaign activities on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023 was to enable CDC carry out its campaign which was scheduled for the same Thursday.
UP indicated that its action was also intended to avoid any incidence of confusion or violence with CDC supporters.
According to the former ruling Party, the measure was in line with the Party’s commitment to uphold the Farmington Declaration signed on April 4, 2023 by at least27 political Parties, aimed at violence-free elections.
UP therefore resumed its campaign activities in Montserrado County on Friday, September 8, 2023 with a tour of the party’s Rescue Mission in District #17, Montserrado County. The party visited
Brewerville Township and Blamanson Town.
In similar manner, the Weah-Taylor 2023 National Victory Campaign Team of the ruling CDC, over the week-end, initiated proactive measures as UP prepares for its campaign rally in Montserrado County on September 17.
The Weah-Taylor Campaign Team announced to its supporters and well-wishers that all public campaigning activities planned for Montserrado County for the CDC on September 17, 2023, the same day the UP is expected to do its official campaign launch, have been suspended.
The Weah-Taylor 2023 National Victory Campaign, a part of the CDC has also urged its partisans, auxiliaries, supporters, and well-wishers to refrain from organizing public political gatherings or activities within Montserrado County on September 17, 2023.
The CDC stated that “these measures are being implemented with the primary goal of fostering
political harmony, ensuring peaceful election season, and upholding the Farmington Declaration, the National Elections Law, and the laws of the Republic of Liberia.”
The ruling CDC, through its National Campaign Team reaffirmed it’s committed to conducting peaceful and law-abiding campaign as Liberia prepares for the 2023 elections.
The party highlighted the importance of peaceful and violent free polls in Liberia and subsequently urged all stakeholders to contribute to free and fair elections in Liberia.
Both CDC and UP said their actions are in line with the Farmington Hotel Pact, signed April 4, 2023, in Margibi, county, signed by 27 political parties to ensure a nonviolent electoral process.
The signing ceremony was organized under the auspices of the National Elections Commission (NEC), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the United Nations (UN).
President George Manneh Weah of the governing CDC, former Vice President, Ambassador Joseph Nyuma Boakai of former ruling UP and Mr. Alexander B. Cummings, a world-class corporate executive turned politician of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP), among many others attended the signing ceremony.
Representatives from the government, civil society groups, the diplomatic community and international organizations were also present at the high-level event.
The UN and ECOWAS signed the agreement as witnesses. On behalf of the United Nations, Ms. Giovanie Biha, deputy special representative of the Secretary-General and acting head of the UN office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), signed the agreement, while Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, signed on behalf of ECOWAS.
