By Jerromie S. Walters
Officials (Including the Vice Chair for Political Affairs) of the All Liberian Coalition Party (ALCOP)- say the party was authorized by the National Elections Commission (NEC) to conduct the climax of its campaign activities on yesterday, October 8, 2023, even though the ruling CDC was also approved by the Commission to host her campaign activity on the same day.
“Of course we were, why will we not be authorized and still go ahead to have rally? We are people of law and we respect the law of this nation and NEC is no exception, because they are the one who runs the elections of this country so we live in conformity with law,” an official of ALCOP informs Womenvoices Monday, October 9, 2023.
He adds, “We wrote the National Elections Commission, we gave them our schedule and they gave us green-light to go ahead with our closing program.
The opposition All Liberian Coalition official says the National Elections Commission unhesitatingly accepted their proposal for Sunday, October 8, 2023. “We proposed the 8th, and they granted us- that’s why you saw us outside yesterday.”
Concomitantly- Ignatius Wisseh, the Director of Political Affairs of the National Elections Commission (NEC) informs this paper that the Commission reached a gentle agreement with the All Liberian Coalition Party (ALCOP) to proceed with its campaign activity on Sunday, October 8, 2023, considering that they were prepared and had no other day left.
However, he clarifies that the All Liberian Coalition Party (ALCOP) was not given an official (written) authorization, as it was done in the case of CDC and other parties.
This was because the Commission earlier authorized the ruling party to use the day for her campaign rally, following an initial request.
It was made known that ALCOP did make a request to use the date, but it was met with delay and following their (NEC and ALCOP) last appointment, they mutually agreed that ALCOP would have held its event the same day, but at a specific venue (A field), and with the presence of state security.
Sadly, NEC’s gentle agreement with the opposition All Liberian Coalition didn’t end as they anticipated, as it resulted to a deadly scene that Liberians are still mourning.
Following a tense campaign process, supporters of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) on Sunday, October 8, 2023, assembled in parts of Montserrado, and other counties across Liberia- to climax their campaign activities.
Amid the massive turnout, the evening hours met an unorthodox reaction from individuals believed to be supporters of the All Liberian Coalition Party (ALCOP), who exchanged stones at supporters of the CDC.
As vividly seen in video footages, the situation resulted to a single death, minor injuries, while parts of several vehicles were damaged.
The clash occurred on the Japan Freeway (Somalia Drive). Blunt objects including- stones, sticks and irons were exchanged between supporters of the two parties. The incident affected also properties, as shops and other businesses in the Bardnersville Junction, Gardnersvile Supermarket and other areas were shut down due to the situation. People fled the environment for their lives and safety.
As several other political parties have done, yesterday’s violence violates the Farmington River Declaration that was signed and agreed upon by most of the political parties, prior to the campaign process, to abstain from acts that have the propensity to cause violence.
