The majority bloc of the newly elected leadership of the national youth congress of the Unity Party of Liberi has rejected the proposal advanced by some segment of the national executive committee of the party to appoint Togar Cephus and Cyrus Greene to ascend to the positions of the National Chairman and the Vice Chairman for Administration of the youths. In July of this year, the positions of the National Chairman and the National Vice Chairman for Administration of the youth congress of the Unity Party were left vacant during the election at the national convention held in Gbarnga City, Bong County following disagreements among members.
The election committee headed by Representative Clarence Massaquoi during the July 2022 national convention of the Unity Party held in Gbarnga, Bong County failed to conduct an election for the National Chairman and National Vice Chairman of the National Youth Congress of the party because of the tension that erupted among the delegates.
It is a rumor that there are plans by some members of the National Coordinating Committee of the party’s national convention to fill the vacancies with Togar Cephus and Cyrus Greene as National Chairman and National Vice Chairman for Administration of the National Youth Congress of the Unity Party.
Addressing a press conference in Monrovia, the Secretary General-elect of the National Youth Congress of the Unity Party, Evans Tumu, said they have reliably learned that some members of the national executive committee of the party are planning to appoint Togar Cephus as National Chairman and Cyrus Greene as National Vice Chairman for Administration of the National Youth Congress
Tumu said while they are waiting for the reconvening of the national youth convention for the purpose of electing and inducting into office a new National Youth Chairman and National Vice Chairman for Administration, Lansana Fofana remains the Acting National Youth Chairman in the absence of Curtis Dorley.
He explained that the main reason for calling for the reopening of the process is contingent on the fact that they cannot have their National Chairman Reverend Doctor Luther Tarpeh hailing from Rivercess County and also have the National Chairman of the National Youth Congress coming from the same county.
The UP Secretary General-elect cited Article IX of the new constitution of the Unity Party which states: “The National Convention shall be the final and supreme authority of the Unity Party vested with the legislative policy-making powers, electoral powers, managerial power and authority over all matters of the party; and matter arising thereof shall be done through a resolution signed by 2/3 majority of delegates present.”
Tumu also cited Article XVI Section 5 of the constitution of the Unity Party which states: “The national officers of the Youth Congress and Women Congress shall be elected by the youths and females in attendance at a National Convention of the Unity Party”.
Also, Count Six of the resolution adopted at the end of the national convention resolved: “ that due to the protest filed against two contestants of the National Youth Congress; namely for the positions of National Chairman and National Vice Chairman for Administration, and because there was insufficient time to investigate and resolve the contest. The convention decided to postpone the elections for the aforementioned positions to a future date when the matter has been properly investigated and resolved.”
“Based on this background”, he went on to say, “there is nowhere in the above counts and articles that say it is prohibited to re-open the position for the applications considering the political exigency and constitutional violations that will occur.”
He admonished partisans of the Unity Party that their action is in no way trying to hold the party stagnant; but rather to prevent the party from a setback that few members of the national coordinating committee want to cast on.
Mr. Tumu is therefore calling on the National Chairman of the Unity Party, Reverend Luther Tarpeh to resist the temptation of being pressurized to organize any illegal white ballot in the name of reconvening the national youth convention.
According to him, the membership of the 15 counties and 73 district youth structures across the country will declare beneficiaries of such a spoiled convention as persona non-grata and their leadership will not submit to such illegal authority.
Reported by: Augustine Octavius
Contact: +231777463963
Email: augustineoctavius@gmail.com
