Liberia: Who Will Prevail PYJ?

There is never any politician that has stood mountainous as a kingmaker in common Liberian political historical past than the gradual Senator Prince Yormie Johnson, popularly known by the acronyms of his title, PYJ-the undisputed political godfather of vote-effectively to do Nimba County.

Along with his have an effect on, PYJ supplied the Liberian presidency on a silver platter to three Liberian Presidents: Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, George Manneh Weah and Joseph Nyuma Boakai who in the period in-between occupies the posts. Whoever he threw his weight in the motivate of obtained the presidential elections-that’s if he become once no longer contesting the presidency. PYJ held Nimba in his grips as he made countless senators and representatives in his native Nimba.

As legit campaign activities for the Nimba County by-election advance to a shut, the electorate are eagerly ready to elect one other particular person to interchange fallen Senator Prince Yormie Johnson, who passed in gradual November 2024.

Your full election assignment is alleged to be silent upon the closure of 1 in all the most heated political campaigns in Nimba’s historical past, which fervent a lot of knowing leaders and political actors from across Liberia.

Many regarded as the election as a test for Vice President Jeremiah Koung whether or no longer he aloof maintained supremacy in the absence of Senator Johnson.

There are seven candidates vying for the one seat, together with Nimba District 5 Book Samuel G. Kogar; worn Nimba Superintendent Edith Gongloe Weh; worn Nimba District 4 Book, Cllr. Garrison Yealue; worn Nimba District 9 representative, Mantinokay Tingban; worn Nimba County Inspector Heed Gblinwon; Mr. Wonokay Farngalo and Mr. George Gunpul.

The campaign immediate took a pattern of ethnicity, especially between the 2 necessary contenders, Earn. Kogar, of the Gio tribe, and Madam Gongloe Weh, who’s Mano.

The camp of Kogar, which is backed by Vice President of Liberia Jeremiah Kpan Koung and virtually all native authorities authorities in Nimba desire the senatorial positions being divided between the 2 necessary ethnic groups in Nimba; the Dan/Gio and the Mano.

They argued that since Senator Nyan Twayen is a Mano man, the subsequent seat must be reserved for the Dan/Gio population.

VP Koung, in his campaign message in Tappita, acknowledged, when Nimba obtained her county plot in 1964, President Tubman chosen Johnny Voker as Senator of Nimba and further exclaim to designate any totally different as the 2nd senator.

He acknowledged the gradual Johnny Voker then chosen extinct man Gblorzuo Toweh as one other senator, making the desire of senators two.

Koung explained that from there on, the illustration in the Dwelling of Senate had always been one Mano and one Dan/Gio.

In 1985, Edward Sackor obtained the Senatorial seat over the gradual Hilary Gbonblee, thanks to the team spirit among the electorate, Edward Sackor resigned, relinquished the post and Mr. Gbonblee grew to alter into the senator.

Additionally, in 1997, George Korkor (Mano) and one Margaret Kamah (Gio) had been elected senators of Nimba, with Margaret changing into the first female senator of Nimba, dispelling rumours that girls folks had no longer change into senators of Nimba earlier than.

Within the most up-to-date groups of elections, especially in 2011, Madam Edith Gongloe Weh intruded into the election assignment when she become once asked by president Sirleaf to give likelihood to Adolphus Dolo, who become once regarded as the authorized in election, something he acknowledged that led the Mano votes to be divided, leaving Thomas Grupee to derive.

He acknowledged in Nimba politics, Godfather draw had made a necessary affect in resolution making, origin with Johnny Voker, so he’ll be a coward to stay sitting and making a resolution that will defend the electorate together.

“Oldman Johnny Voker did not take decision on tribal line, his decision to bring in oldman Toweh was to keep Nimba united,” he acknowledged.

With this election, he acknowledged the risk must be given to the GIo so the senatorial positions would possibly per chance also even be balanced among the 2 necessary tribes.

“In this 2024 by-election, both tribes voted for Nyan Twayen despite the presence of Samuel Kogar, who was the main contender at that time,” he acknowledged.

It’s no longer easiest Vice President Koung who’s pushing for the political balance in the Dwelling of Senate between the 2 necessary tribes.

Sanniquellie worn City, Madam Mary Gonlepa, a key supporter of Edith Gongloe Weh in her previous elections is this time campaigning for Earn. Kogar, preaching the the same political balance in the Dwelling of Senate.

“This election is about women’s representation, but it is about keeping our county together and balancing the senatorial equation among the two tribes,” she acknowledged.

One other female knowing chief, Atty. Sondah Geepea Wilson, a worn contender in the 2023 election typically called on the electorate to vote for Earn. Kogar citing Nimba’s team spirit.

“Our concern is about the county unity and how strong we can stand together as one undivided county, not on women solidarity,” she acknowledged.

Nimba County Superintendent Kou Meapeh Gono on Friday, April 18, 2025, rallied the chiefs and elders as effectively as ladies folks leaders at her place to give all toughen to Kogar.

She outmoded the occasion to distribute motorcycles to the district administrative commissioners of Nimba County.

Gongloe-Weh’s campaign, fully backed by the Coalition for Democratic Alternate (CDC) together with worn Montserrado Book Acarous Gray, Earn. Yekeh Kolubah and Earn. Junior Cole, among others, joined the last fragment of the campaign on Saturday, April 19, 2025, hitting the streets of Ganta with a immense parade from Jackie Guest Dwelling to the main sq..

With the total views from Vice Koung and supporters, the repute of Madam Gongloe Weh stays excessive among her supporters, especially in the town parts of Nimba, describing her as outspoken and anyone who will likely be vocal in speaking for Nimba’s passion.

“We are here to rally voters to vote for Edith, so the voices of the women will be heard in the House of Senate,” acknowledged Henrietta Martol, a female recommend.

On the opposite hand, puny is heard in regards to the last five candidates in the campaign assignment, but some electorate are additionally speculating they are going to be dropped at decrease the votes of the 2 necessary contenders’ stronghold.

Meanwhile, the ambiance prior to the election seems silent. Candidates are deploying their pollwatchers to the many polling areas in preparation of the April 22, 2025, by-election, while a bus full of workers of Nationwide Election Rate has arrived in the county to habits the election assignment.

The Liberia Nationwide Police and safety apparatuses have additionally been deployed for the rationale that campaign began.

Some Nimbaians imagine that a loss for Jeremiah Kpan Koung will bog down his political weight advance 2029 and deprive the county of a risk of putting ahead the vice presidency.

Alas, below the bottom of the fight for tribal equity or supremacy lies, maybe, a more intense political fight between the CDC of George Weah and the ruling Team spirit Occasion.