The Liberia People’s Democratic Party and the National Patriotic Party have clarified the recent joint statement signed by the leaders of the three constituent political parties that formed the Coalition for Democratic Change.
On September 8, 2022, the Liberia People’s Democratic Party (LPDP), the National Patriotic Party (NPP), and the Congress for Democratic Change signed a joint statement reaffirming their commitments to work together in the 2023 presidential and legislative elections.
Since then, there has been widespread misinformation suggesting that the reaffirmation document signed by the leaders of the three constituent political parties CDC, NPP, and the LPDP is the final coalition agreement that will guide them to the 2023 presidential and legislative elections.
But, the NPP and LPDP, in a joint press statement issued, said the reaffirmation document signed by the three political parties is an expression of their intent to work together in the 2023 presidential and legislative elections.
According to the NPP and LPDP, the reaffirmation document will set the basis for the three political parties through their respective national conventions mandated by their national executive committees to draw up the appropriate framework document.
The NPP and LPDP joint statement said the framework document will among other things spell out the interests of the parties in the governance process in the country and the procedure to derive the legislative candidates.
LPDP and NPP added that the parties ‘agreement defined by the framework document will be signed by at least two third of members of the national executive committees in line with the constitutions of the three political parties, the guidelines and regulations of the National Elections Commission regarding the formation of alliances, coalitions, and mergers of political parties.
The NPP and LPDP joint press statement was signed by Andrew Peters and Eric Kpayea, Secretary Generals, and approved by Senator James Biney and Chief Moses Kollie, National Chairmen respectively.
Five years since coming into power, all has not been sailing smoothly for the coalition as the NPP has suffered intra-party conflicts; some members of the LPDP and CDC are dissatisfied with the distribution of jobs.
Last week, some members of the national youth congress and the constituent coordinators of the LPDP expressed their dissatisfaction with the agreement and called on their leaders, Moses Kollie and Alex Tyler to recall their signatures.
According to them, the two leaders should recall the signatures on the ground that they (youths and constituent coordinators) are not happy with the manner their party has been treated in terms of the governance of the country.
The youths and constituent coordinators complained that there has been unfair distribution of jobs in the government, especially in political appointments.
The LPDP youths and constituent coordinators also expressed their disagreement on the manner in which the country is being governed.
Some time ago, some members of the NPP complained of dissatisfaction with the distribution of jobs because the Congress for Democratic Change was singlehandedly running the affairs of the coalition and country.
Secondly, the leadership of the NPP has been locked in a legal battle between Senator James Birney, the National Chairman, and Vice president Jewel Howard Taylor.
Moreover, the NPP youths, on one occasion, almost attack Senator James Biney when he attended the birthday party of its founding standard bearer, the jailed former Liberian president, Charles Taylor, at his compound in Paynesville.
But, the case was resolved by the Supreme Court and the lower court giving the James Biney leadership 45 days to hold a national convention and conduct an election for the party.
As for the Congress for Democratic Change, there have been reports of some dissatisfaction among some members because of the failure of the leaders to offer them jobs
Some members left the party because they have not benefitted from the revolution that they struggled for over the years and citizens complained of difficulty in the midst of the challenging socio-economic situation prevailing in the country
In 2017, the NPP, the LPDP, and the CDC signed an agreement that subsequently formed the Coalition for Democratic Change and won the elections for President George Weah.
The agreement is expected to be reviewed by the three constituent political parties later this year before the holding of the presidential and legislative elections in 2023.
Reported by: Augustine Octavius
Contact: +231777463963
Email: augustineoctavius@gmail.com
