Africa-Press – Liberia. Dr. Urey Yarkpawolo, the vice presidential candidate running alongside Cllr. Tiawan Gongloe, has denied reports that he has pledged his support to President George Weah’s reelection bid in the upcoming presidential runoff election.
Yarkpawolo, who serves as the Vice Standard Bearer of the Liberia People’s Party (LPP), has rejected claims from Stanton Witherspoon, the founder of the popular Spoon Network, alleging that a deal has been struck with the ruling party to switch sides.
According to Yarkpawolo, he has never pledged his support to the ruling party, nor has he entertained such a notion, as suggested by panelists on the popular Spoon-Talk nighttime show.
Over the weekend, Witherspoon alleged during his show that Yarkpawolo was willing to support the President because Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor hails from his native Bong County.
“Witherspoon’s comments were demeaning and false,” Yarkpawolo said. “I want to draw your attention to the Spoon Talk edition of October 20, 2023, broadcasted on the Spoon Network Inc.”
“I wish to highlight several demonstrably false statements made on the show, which were not only outright lies but also severely damaged my hard-earned character, putting my life in danger in light of the upcoming runoff presidential election,” he stated.
The former Spoon CEO claimed that LPP’s second-in-command convened an LPP leadership meeting and wrote a letter to the LPP Executive Committee, asking the LPP to support the CDC. Witherspoon also alleged that Yarkpawolo had convinced 25 percent of his party’s executive members, while 75 percent remained unconvinced.
Yarkpawolo, however, emphasized that any decision to support a party in the runoff would be a matter discussed and decided upon collectively by the LPP, underscoring the importance of a democratic and collective decision-making process.
Weah and his closest rival, Joseph Nyuma Boakai of the United Party, are poised to face off in a runoff election, being the top performers in the presidential elections held on October 10, in which no candidate obtained the constitutionally required 50 percent plus one of the total votes cast.
“The Liberia People’s Party, under the leadership of Cllr. Tiawon Gongloe has maintained a commitment to a fair and democratic approach to political decision-making. The party’s stance underscores the importance of preserving the integrity of the electoral process and respecting the democratic values that underpin Liberia’s political landscape,” Yarkpawolo stated in the release.
Meanwhile, Yarkpawolo has threatened legal action against Spoon FM Network and Witherspoon over “defamation.”
He affirmed that he has not made any individual decisions regarding party support in the runoff, and such decisions should be made collectively within the LPP.
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