-As Weah, Boakai seek his support
By Jerromie S. Walters
Like anywhere else- Liberia’s pending presidential runoff is a critical stage in the electoral process, where the two leading candidates, incumbent President George Weah and former Vice President Joseph Nyuma Boakai compete for the support of voters who backed other candidates in the initial round.
As it gradually approaches, and with Tuesday’s experience of the campaign zest demonstrated by the both candidates- we have seen reasons to examine the situation of both President George Weah and the former Vice President- as they are seeking the endorsement of scores of other candidates, but specifically a candidate, Mr. Alexander B. Cummings who secured the fifth position in the previous election. Like we saw on Tuesday, October 24, 2033- this endorsement holds significant potential to sway a significant portion of voters, making it a crucial factor in determining the outcome of the runoff.
On Tuesday, October 10, 2023, Liberians visited the polls to elect new leaders. At the climax of the tallying of the October 10, 2023, polls, Alexander Cummings, the political leader of the Collaborating Political Parties secured 29,613 votes, constituting 1.61 percent.
He finishes the fifth position among 19 other candidates that participated in the process.
Like many never thought, both President George Weah and Amb. Joseph Nyuma Boakai visited Mr. Cummings on the same day (Tuesday), and as anyone will obviously assume, it was to ensure the support of the CPP political leader who came fifth in the recent elections.
But as it stands, it appears that following Tuesday’s appointments at Cummings Sinkor residence with President Weah and former VP Boakai, he has been caught up in a judicious state, especially for the fact that both candidates have shown interest in his support.
Over the last eight or more months, Cummings has not had a smooth relationship with the opposition Unity Party (UP). It all started from their refusal to tolerate his consistent stand of being the presidential candidate of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP), to when he was dragged to court by them (ALPand UP) over allegation of alteration of the CPP framework document.
Since then, supporters of the ANC and the UP have been like opposition and ruling establishment. At some point, the ANC was even referred to as an auxiliary of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC).
Howbeit, the UP is now in the queue for the support of those they termed as an auxiliary of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), along with the very same CDC.
Though Mr. Cummings and President Weah have not gone through rough exchanges, there have been some occasions when they both threw jabs at each other.
Weah is remembered for informing Cummings that the presidency is not about “Putting sugar water in bottle and shaking it,” a reference to Cummings’ service with the famous Coca Cola company. On the other hand, Cummings repeatedly told Liberians that Weah doesn’t care about the future of Liberians, and that he’s incompetent to lead the state.
But as it stands, Cummings seems to be battling internal conflicts, as we are pretty sure that he has informed the both of them that he will get back to them in the coming days. Though it’s difficult for the CPP political leader, Liberians remain curious about his response.
Late Tuesday, October 24, 2023- he wrote via his official Facebook page- “Today, I was pleased to separately host both Pres. George Weah and former Vice President Joseph Boakai at my residence, at their respective request.”
He says- “ The CPP will continue to engage both the CDC and the Unity Party as we determine our position for the runoff, inspite of our concerns raised with the NEC. We will be speaking to the nation tomorrow in details as to what will inform our decision as the CPP.”
In a presidential runoff, the support of the fifth-place contender, like Cummings, can significantly impact the outcome of the election. To secure this endorsement, the leading candidates must understand the fourth-place contender’s voter base and campaign strategy, identify common ground, address key concerns, engage in personal dialogue, and explore opportunities for policy collaborations.
By effectively executing these strategies, the leading candidates can increase their chances of securing the support of the fourth-place contender’s voters and ultimately succeed in the presidential runoff.
On Tuesday, October 24, 2023- the National Elections Commission (NEC) of Liberia released the final results from the recently concluded elections, setting the stage for a runoff scheduled for November 14. The NEC declared that after a thorough and transparent electoral process, no candidate secured the 50% +1 vote majority to claim an outright victory.
In a press conference held at the NEC headquarters minutes ago, Chairlady Davidetta Browne Lasannah revealed the final tallies from the October 10 polls, with incumbent President George Weah leading with a total of 804,087 votes, constituting 43.83%, followed by former Vice President Joseph Nyuma Boakai with a total votes of 796,961, accounting for 43.44%. With a turnout of 78.86%, citizens engaged in the democratic process, expressing their hopes and concerns for the country’s future.
The NEC reported that the runoff, slated for November 14, will be a crucial moment for Liberia. The two leading candidates, incumbent President George Weah of the CDC and former Vice President Joseph Nyuma Boakai of the former ruling UP, will now intensify their campaigns, vying for the support of the voters who will determine the next leader of the nation.
As the countdown to the runoff begins, the NEC has urged all candidates, political parties, and supporters to maintain the spirit of peace and fair play. The people of Liberia are encouraged to participate actively and peacefully in the upcoming runoff election, exercising their democratic right to choose their next leader.
Security measures will be enhanced across the country to ensure a safe environment for both candidates and voters. The NEC, in collaboration with relevant authorities, is working tirelessly to guarantee a smooth and incident-free electoral process.
The NEC remains committed to ensuring a credible and transparent electoral process, upholding the democratic aspirations of the Liberian people. As the nation moves forward toward the runoff on November 14, all eyes are on Liberia, anticipating the peaceful and democratic transition of power.
