By: H. Ric hard Fallah
Monrovia: The individual identified as Edward Appleton Jr., Standard-bearer of Grassroots Development Movement (GDM), a political party, has shapely responded to critics who believe that he does not deserve to take third place position as regards the outcome of the October 10, 2023 Presidential and Legislative elections as announced by the National Elections Commission.
Addressing a press conference held at the Headquarters of the Grassroots Development Movement (GDM), on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, in Monrovia, Mr. Appleton noted that “While supposed to be big political parties were looking for crowds and filling football stadiums, we were in rural Liberia talking to people one-on-one.”
“We delivered our campaign messages through the ‘Jehovah Witness’ style to the ordinary people, which fell on good ground,” Appleton further told the news conference.
Mr. Appleton categorically debunked insinuations in many quarters including social media that he was never a ‘ghost’ on the NEC ballot paper for the October 10 elections.
Indeed, Edward Appleton was assigned number one on the NEC’s 2023 Presidential Ballot Paper.
“They said, I am a ghost, I am not; They said our party was set -up to disrupt the electoral process, that is not true; They said, I have left the country, that is not true,” he clarified.
Mr. Appleton stressed that though his GDM party did not make it to the top two (2) spots as announced by the National Elections Commission (NEC; the GDM party, is in the position to play a key role in the upcoming Presidential Runoff election.
As he (Appleton) was seen in a recent photograph with opposition political leader, Joseph Nyuma Boakai, some political pundits suggested that he (Appleton) is heading towards the “rescue team,” of Unity Party (UP), headed by Ambassador Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
However, Mr. Appleton clarified that the Grassroots Development Movement (GDM) has not endorsed any of the two candidates (Boakai and Weah) as it is being speculated in the public.
According to him, the party`s decision to endorse anyone for the Presidency will be based on a clear understanding of what the Liberian people want.
He noted that as Standard-bearer along with other party leaders, is “praying for wisdom to make the Liberia people and those who will vote in the future, proud.”
He maintains that the GDM party will not be onlooker, as its membership will be full participants in the elections .
According to Mr. Appleton, the Grassroots Development Movement intends to work hard in changing the paradigm which will bring about a generational change in a not too distance future.
He further noted that based on the enthusiasm shown by the Liberian people in electing their leaders in the first round of the elections, it clearly demonstrates that the “Liberian people believe in democracy and good governance.”
The GDM leader expressed its commitment in upholding the peace of the nation and stand for justice, good governance, human rights and the social economic development in the country.
Meanwhile, Mr. Appleton also thanked Liberians, particularly, those who voted in the just ended October 10, Legislative and Presidential elections.
He noted that the participation of electorate shows that the future of the Country is bright.
He encouraged citizens to repeat the mass turnout in the runoff elections as it was exhibited on Tuesday, October 10, 2023.
He, at the same time, appreciated the international community for its supports to Liberia, joint security or being neutral in its operations and all political parties that took part in the elections.
Edward Appleton defeated LPP Tiawan S. Gongloe; CPP Alexander B. Cummings, and many topnotch presidential candidates.
Appleton Jr., the Standard-bearer of the Grass Roots Development Movement Party (GRDM), has made headway compare to his rivals who streamed their campaign events for more than five to ten Facebook Live platforms.
According to the official pronouncement of final results by the National Elections Commission, the GDM Standard bearer sits in third place with more than twenty eight thousand votes after incumbent President George Manneh Weah, of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), and former Vice President Joseph Nyuma Boakai of the Unity Party (UP), who sit first and second places respectively.
