AS PARTY LEADERSHIP DECLARES VP TAYLOR STANDERSHIP OVER
Monrovia- The National Patriotic Party has proclaimed that, in accordance with the party’s charter, Vice President Jewel Howard-term Taylor’s as the NPP’s standard bearer has come to an end. James Biney, the national chairman of the NPP, revealed that the party has instructed its secretariat to issue a notice requesting members to apply for nomination to run as legislative candidates on the party’s slate and hold the role of standard bearer.
At a news conference in Congo Town, Monrovia on Thursday, December 29, 2022, Senator Biney stated that the party’s secretariat had been handed the mandate at the conclusion of a special meeting of the national executive committee. According to Chairman Biney, the mandate of the NPP national executive committee is in line with the guidelines and procedure of the National Elections Commission leading to the conduct of the 2023 general elections in Liberia. He clarified that Madam Taylor was elected as the standard bearer for the second time in 2016 for a second six-year term, starting in 2010.
“No officer of the party can succeed themselves unless there is a constitutional revision, as Madam Jewel Howard-term Taylor’s as standard bearer expires on the second Saturday of December 2022.”
Senator Biney made it quite apparent that the NPP constitution prohibits her from seeking for a third term as the party’s standard bearer. The National Executive Committee’s decision, according to the Chairman, is in accordance with Articles 3.2 and 9.1 of the NPP Constitution.
The NPP leadership has been embroiled in legal disputes with the National Elections Commission, the Circuit Court, and the Supreme Court of Liberia for a while now. The controversial conclusion of the seventh national convention of the NPP, which was held in Paynesville, was based on the court’s decision.
At the conclusion of that convention, two national executive committees arose, one headed by Vice President Taylor and National Chairman James Biney, and the other headed by Counselor Stanley Kpaklin and organized outside of the conference. The Vice President rejected the motion put forth by President George Weah, hence the Governing Council of the Coalition for Democratic Change’s efforts have met with little success.
The intra-party confusion in the NPP, a constituent member of the coalition, is a serious impediment to the chance for the re-election of President Weah. Meanwhile, there has been no response from the camp of Vice President Taylor. There are also claims that James Biney’s tenure as the National Chairman of the NPP has also expired.
Political observers are of the opinion that the latest development in the NPP has opened a new page in the intra-party crisis because no one knows what exactly Vice President Taylor will take in reaction to declaring her as a government bone.
Reported by: Augustine Octavius
Contact: +231777463963
Email: augustineoctavius@gmail.com
