In Nimba and Grand Gedeh

The mainstream opposition party, Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), has announced its decision not to field candidates in the upcoming senatorial and representative by-elections in Nimba and Grand Gedeh counties. Instead, they have declared their intention to throw their support behind candidates of their choosing. 

Speaking at the  media conference held late Wednesday evening, March 27, 2024, at their Congo Town Headquarters in Monrovia, the party’s Secretary General, Jefferson T. Koijee, clearly stated that they would not be putting forward candidates for the upcoming by-elections. However, Koijee did not disclose the specific reasons behind this decision.

Koijee further explained that the party is currently scrutinizing the candidates participating in the race and will subsequently inform their supporters of whom to support, in accordance with the party’s mandate.

The upcoming by-elections are a consequence of the 2023 presidential and legislative elections. These elections resulted in the elevation of Nimba’s former Senator, Jeremiah Kpa Koung, to the position of Vice President. Additionally, the passing of Grand Gedeh’s #1 Lawmaker, the late E. Madison Gwion, who died on Monday, December 4, 2023, has necessitated the by-election in Grand Gedeh county.

The decision by the CDC to abstain from fielding candidates marks a significant development in the political landscape of Nimba and Grand Gedeh counties. With the party opting to throw its weight behind candidates of their choosing, it could potentially sway the outcomes of these by-elections.

The CDC’s decision raises questions about the party’s strategy and future political alignments. It remains to be seen how this move will impact the dynamics of the upcoming by-elections and the broader political landscape in Liberia.

Meanwhile, as the countdown to the by-elections continues, political parties and candidates are intensifying their campaigns in Nimba and Grand Gedeh counties but the  absence of CDC candidates adds a new dimension to the electoral race, prompting other parties to recalibrate their strategies in response to this unexpected development.