Seven candidates have been qualified by the country’s electoral body, the National Elections Commission (NEC), to contest the ensuing senatorial by-election in Nimba County with campaign for the heated process already launched.
The much-publicized Nimba County By-election, which is expected to take place on April 22, 2025, is necessitated by Article 37 of the 1986 Liberian Constitution contingent on the death of doyen Senator Prince Yormie Johnson, alias “PYJ.”
Article 37 of the Liberian Constitution states that: “In the event of a vacancy in the Legislature caused by death, resignation, expulsion or otherwise, the presiding officer shall within 30 days notify the Elections Commission thereof. The Elections Commission shall not later than 90 days thereafter cause a by election to be held; provided that where such vacancy occurs within 90 days prior to the holding of general elections, the filling of the vacancy shall await the holding of such general elections.”
Accordingly, the NEC, which is the body responsible for the conduct of all electoral activities within the territorial confines of Liberia, has already qualified a total of seven candidates to contest the upcoming election in Nimba County.
Among the many candidates qualified by the Commission, one of the longest serving lawmakers, Nimba County Electoral District #5 Representative, Samuel Kogar, will contest the ensuing election on the ticker of Nimba’s most popular political party, the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR).
According to a list of qualified candidates released by the NEC, the other candidates that will face Rep. Kogar include: Lone female Edith Gongloe-Weh (Independent), Garrison Yealue (Independent), Mack Gblinwon of Musa Bility’s Citizens Movement for Change (CMC), former District #9 Representative, Richard Matenogay Tingban of the Vision for Liberia’s Transformation (VOLT), George Gonpu of African Democratic Movement (ADMIL) and Victor Fangalu (Independent). Going into this race, Rep. Kogar is said to be seriously working behind the scene to get the remaining seven years mandate from the people of Nimba County.
Some political pundits are of the view that the Rep. Kogar still enjoys the confidence of his people and might be elected for highest political seat in his county. On the other hand, some say that the District 9 lawmaker has lost the popularity he held over the years due to his continue involvements in controversies, and as such, has an uphill battle to be elected.
Also key in the race is former Nimba County Superintendent Madam Edith Gongloe-Weh, who has lost on numerous occasions in different senatorial elections. All along, she had always finished second to all of the winners from the time she opted to test the race.
She lost against former Senator Thomas Grupee in 2011, three years later (2014 special Senatorial Election) and in the 2023 Presidential and Legislative Elections, all against “PYJ” (late). Many believe that despite losing in these elections, the former LP candidate still maintains great charge in some parts of the county.
Truly, Edith’s accumulated votes in Nimba has been the highest votes that one has lost at, at the level of the Legislature. Going into this Senatorial By-election, Madam Gongloe-Weh’s depends highly on self- popularity and the cordial relationship that she has maintained with her people over the years. Political pundits believe that Madam Gongloe-Weh poses a serious threat to Rep. Kogar’s election and that she also stands the chance of winning if things go her way.
Another person of interest is Mack Gblinwon of the country’s fast growing Citizens Movement for Change (CMC). Since the formation of the CMC, the party has been fast-moving in rivaling the county’s most popular party – MDR of Vice President Jeremiah Koung.
Now that he is going into this race on the ticket of the CMC, the candidacy of Mr. Gblinwon cannot be underestimated. Also strong in the race is Nimba County’s Electoral District #9 Representative, Richard Matenokay Tingban of the Vision for Liberia Transformation (VOLT), a party of former Presidential candidate Jeremiah Whappoe.
It can be recalled that during his days in the 54th Legislature, former Rep. Tingban created/formed several political alliances in some parts of the country, though that didn’t reflect in the outcome his election result in 2017.
However, since then, former Rep. Tingban is said to have worked assiduously in his native land – engaging in major projects across the county. The race will also be contested by another notable name, Atty. Garrison Yealue, also a former Representative of Nimba County Electoral District #4 in the 54th Legislature.
Yealue, who also serve as Chairperson of the Governance Commission (GC) during regime of the immediate former ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), is earmarked as a serious contender in the race having served as one of lead campaigners for the CDC in the 2023 Presidential and Legislative Elections, that still remains fresh in the memories of Nimbaians.
These plus two other notable names in persons of George Gonpu of African Democratic Movement (ADMIL) and Victor Fangalu (Independent), the ensuing By-election for Nimba poses to be another tough political battle and yet another test to the country’s democracy under the regime of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
By: Emmanuel Weedee-Conway
