Africa-Press – Liberia. The Liberia People Democratic Party (LPDP), one of the constituent political party within the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) has decried what it termed as unilateral decisions being taken by a single party within their political marriage.
“This must go forth that going forward, we will no longer sit idly and allow decisions that affect us to be unilaterally taken by any single party, whether it is the Congress for Democratic Change is or the National Patriotic Party and then sleep on it all in the name of exercising maturity,” a statement signed by the political leader of the party and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, J. Alex Tyler stated.
Recently, CDC Chairman Mulbah Morlu announced that the ruling-party was not fielding any candidate in the upcoming by-election in Bomi County. But the LPDP statement indicated that that decision was taken without their knowledge.
According to the LPDP, on August 19, 2021, one of its partisans, Obediah J. Varney expressed interest in contesting in the by-election in Bomi County.
A communication was also sent to the CDC chairman by partisan Adama Robinson expressing Mr. Varney’s interest to contest the vacant seat in the county, the statement indicated.
Also, according to LPDP, in Bomi County, a primary was conducted by the CDC’s leadership in Bomi County and the result was in favor of partisan Varney.
A communication signed by the three constituting parties within the CDC was sent to Chairman Morlu that partisan Varney was chosen to contest in the Bomi County upcoming Representative by-election.
The statement added: “This unfolding development is unimaginable. How could the Congress for Democratic Change arrived at such a critical decision without consulting with the LPDP, especially being cognizant of the fact that in our previous arrangements in 2017 General and Presidential Elections and beyond.”
The statement continued: “The LPDP must have a saying in whatever decision that affected Bomi County and the Western Region, being it political or administrative. What has changed, or are we no longer relevant in the process, we believe the LPDP deserves better.”
Just like the Congress for Democratic Change had been absolute decision in Montserrado County [until last December Special Senatorial Election] and the National Patriotic Party in Bong County, the LPDP says they should be left with whatever decision is taken in Bomi County and the Western part of Liberia.
“Without belaboring on this issue, we think this is disingenuous, disrespectful and a total disregard to our institution, the LPDP, considering all the processes and actions leading to the so-called decision.”
“We believe that the action of not consulting the LPDP in the Bomi County issue and the process leading to the selection of other candidates in the upcoming by-election in the other three counties like Nimba, Bong, and Grand Gedeh by the Congress for Democratic Change is unilateral, undemocratic, completely out of scope and a departure from the spirit with which the Coalition was formed, leading to a victory.”
The LPDP partisan Varney contested for the Representative seat in 2017 and came second to Edwin Snowe. “It looks like our continued exhibition of maturity has been misconstrued as a weakness. This is why we have chosen to begin setting the record straight for the benefit of the media, Coalition members, and the public in general,” the LPDP stated.
