Africa-Press – Liberia. The historic True Whig Party (TWP) has officially written to the National Elections Commission (NEC), seeking approval to hold its 37th National Convention and elect a new corps of officers in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, beginning April 30, 2026.
Speaking at a press conference in Monrovia, TWP Political Leader Eric Olson revealed that the decision to submit a fresh communication to the NEC followed the abortive February 14 convention, which was disrupted by confusion over the listing of delegates.
Mr. Olson stated that the issues leading to the cancellation of the previous gathering are currently being addressed. He added that Reginald Goodridge has been informed about ongoing developments concerning delegate selection, to ensure a peaceful and orderly national convention.
The TWP leader expressed hope that the National Convention Committee would be granted full autonomy to conduct the convention and oversee the election of new officers without interference.
Also speaking at the press conference, Reverend Saide Seton-Sackor, Co-Chairperson of the 2026 TWP National Convention, explained that the convention was aborted because committee members could not reach a consensus on delegates from Montserrado, Lofa, and Bong Counties.
According to Reverend Seton-Sackor, the original chairpersons from these three counties are deceased and were replaced by their respective vice chairpersons. However, these replacements were rejected by some committee members, who submitted alternative names for their preferred delegates.
“To our surprise, we noticed that some other members of the committee had different listings of delegates,” she stated.
She further explained that the convention was ultimately aborted after Mr. Goodridge insisted that only he would submit the names of delegates from Montserrado, Lofa, and Bong Counties.
Reverend Seton-Sackor disclosed that discussions are ongoing within the party’s National Executive Committee to resolve the dispute over the delegate listings.
Founded in 1869 in Clay-Ashland, the True Whig Party is Liberia’s oldest political party and one of Africa’s longest-ruling political institutions. The party first rose to power with the election of Edward James Roye in 1869, who assumed the presidency in 1870.
After a turbulent beginning and the overthrow of Roye, the party consolidated its dominance in 1878 following the end of President Anthony W. Gardiner’s term, ushering in over a century of uninterrupted political control.
The TWP’s prolonged rule was maintained by a close-knit group of Americo-Liberian elites, often in collaboration with the Masonic Order of Liberia. Through elite dominance and limited political competition, the party held sway over much of the nation’s population.
Under leaders such as William V. S. Tubman, the party introduced reforms, including the “Unification Policy,” aimed at bridging divisions between Americo-Liberian settlers and indigenous communities.
The party’s dominance came to an abrupt end in April 1980, following a military coup led by Samuel Doe that dissolved the True Whig Party and ended more than a century of Americo-Liberian political rule.
Now, through its planned 37th National Convention, the True Whig Party seeks to reorganize, elect new leadership, and resolve ongoing internal disputes as it works to reposition itself in Liberia’s political landscape.
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