-Who Replaces Late Sen. Johnson?
By Shallon S. Gonlor / shallonsgonlor@gmail.com
Eligible voters of Nimba will go to the polls on April 22, 2025, not only to elect a new senator but also to make visible their decision about the county’s political direction following the death of its “Political godfather” and one of Liberia’s most influential figures, Senator Prince Yormie Johnson.
The National Elections Commission of Liberia has announced that it is fully prepared to conduct free, fair, credible, and transparent elections in Nimba County’s upcoming senatorial by-election scheduled for Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
Deployment of essential electoral materials, including ballots, began on Sunday across the Upper and Lower Magisterial Offices of NEC Liberia in Sanniquellie and Tappita.
In a press briefing held Sunday at NEC Liberia’s local magisterial offices, Election Magistrates Milton Paye (Upper Nimba) and Asante Lankpor (Lower Nimba) confirmed that all necessary materials and equipment had been received, and distribution was underway across the regions.
The materials include stamp pads, thumb printer pads, ballot papers, ballot boxes, and other essential items. “All our materials and equipment have been received in adequate quantities. We do not anticipate any shortages,” Magistrates Paye and Lankpor assured.
A total of 307,254 registered voters—155,337 males and 151,917 females—are expected to cast their ballots at approximately 3,000 polling stations across the county.
The by-election has garnered significant attention, with all senatorial candidates hoping for a high turnout from voters and supporters.
Seven candidates—six males and one female—are vying for the seat, representing various political parties and independent groups. The candidates include:
– Rep. Samuel Gongben Kogar (Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction – MDR)
– Edith Lianue Gongloe-Weh (Independent)
– Richard Matenokay Tingban (Vision for Liberia Transformation – VOLT)
– Torbor Tee Wonokay Farngalo (African Democratic Movement)
– George Parkinson Gonpu (Independent)
– Mack Gblinwon (Citizens Movement for Change – CMC)
– Garrison Doldeh Yealue Jr. (Independent)
Despite the crowded field, the race is largely seen as a contest between two prominent figures:
Rep. Samuel Kogar, backed by the ruling Unity Party and supported by Vice President Jeremiah Koung.
Madam Edith Gongloe-Weh, supported by a coalition of opposition figures, including former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor, and several current and past lawmakers.
Tuesday’s By-Election: More Than Just a Seat
Johnson, a former warlord turned politician, died in November 2024 at the age of 72. His legacy remains complex—marked by controversy but also by significant political influence. Despite being labeled a war crimes perpetrator by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, he was never prosecuted and remained a dominant political force for nearly two decades.
Since his election in 2005, Johnson was considered a kingmaker, endorsing winning presidential candidates in 2005, 2011, 2017 and 2023.
With his seat vacant, Nimba finds itself at a critical political juncture.
According to Article 37 of the 1986 Liberian Constitution, any legislative vacancy caused by death or other circumstances must be filled within 90 days following official notification.
The NEC opened the nomination process for this by-election on March 4, 2025.
Why This Election Matters
This by-election is more than just a political contest; it reflects power dynamics and the future trajectory of Liberia’s political landscape.
Vice President Jeremiah Koung has heavily endorsed Samuel Kogar, rallying the MDR base and campaigning extensively across Nimba. The move aims to strengthen Koung’s influence in the county ahead of the 2029 presidential elections.
Conversely, a coalition of opposition leaders, including former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and former Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor, is backing Edith Gongloe-Weh. Their support signals a challenge to the current government’s dominance and could be a bellwether for upcoming electoral shifts.
What’s at Stake?
A Kogar Victory would bolster Vice President Koung’s influence, positioning him strongly for future leadership and possibly paving the way for a presidential bid in 2029, especially if President Boakai chooses not to run for a second term.
A Gongloe-Weh Win could serve as a wake-up call, indicating that Nimba’s electorate desires change and is not simply swayed by party loyalty or government influence. Such a result might energize opposition forces ahead of the next national elections.
Nimba has long been considered Liberia’s “electoral college”—a county whose votes often determine national outcomes. This election, therefore, is not just local; it’s a key indicator of Liberia’s broader political climate.
Meanwhile, supporters of former Superintendent and Nimba Senatorial By-election candidate Edith Gongloe-Weh have built a tightly structured get-out-the-vote operation dubbed “She Deserves Our Votes,” a groundbreaking move for Madam Weh to win the senate seat.
On Saturday, thousands of supporters of Madam Gongloe-Weh’s senatorial bid gathered at the center turning point of Ganta principle street around NP gas station for the final campaign rally and pre-victory celebration marked by a parade and speeches.
The crowd, mixed with dominant females and males from diverse society as well as some officials of the CDC and ANC political parties, and volunteer supporters was filled with energy and enthusiasm, danced to the sound of music, waving signs and chanting slogans: “We don’t want money, we want Edith.”
The jubilant crowds used over three hours to reach out to undecided voters, motivating the electorates to turn out in mass on Tuesday to vote for Madam Weh, describing her as the only best-suited replacement for the late and former longest-serving Senator Prince Yormie Johnson. The by-election, set for Tuesday, April 22, 2025, is being held to fill the vacancy left by the late Senator Johnson who died at 72 on November 28, 2024, after his third election in 2023.
Initially, there were only a few hundred supporters lined up but the crowd steadily grew into the thousands, with the line extending nearly a mile past, marking the first-ever political lockdown in the Nimba Senatorial By-election. At the Saturday closing campaign rally and pre-victory parade, top national political commentators, including former Montserrado County District #8 Representative Moses Acarous Gray, Representative Yekeh Kolubah of Electoral District 10 Montserrado, Nimba County District 9 Representative Taa Wongbe rallied electorates to vote.
Madam Weh’s closing campaign rally in Ganta City also drew youths, women, elders, and traditional leaders’ attention. As the election day gains momentum, Gongloe-Weh’s supporters hope that this by-election could mark a turning point for women’s political empowerment in Nimba.
The campaign is over. The Nimba Senatorial candidates delivered their final pitches to voters on Sunday, April 20, 2025. In line with the key dates released by the NEC Liberia for the Nimba County Senatorial By-election, the political campaign is now closed as of 20 April at 11:59 pm!
It was the final day of campaigning for candidates: Torbor. T.W. Farngalo, B. Mack Gblinwon, Edith Gongloe-Weh, George Pakerson Gonpu, Samuel Kogar, R. Matenokay Tingban, and Cllr. Garrison D. Yealue. Reporters who covered the campaign reflect on their time on the trail as by-election day draws near (April 22).
Call for ballot security and support
Speaking before a massive crowd on Saturday ahead of Tuesday’s election, Bong County’s District #3 Representative, Josiah Malvina Cole reminded Nimbaians to change the narratives of election in the county and then offered voters a different path forward if they elect a woman to the House.
Cole’s speech, in front of a massive crowd at Ganta central point highlights Madam Weh’s vision for the county embodied with the deviants of women leadership, encouraging undecided voters to turn out on election day. The Gongloe-Weh campaign estimated thousands of people in attendance, with crowds overflowing all over the street from the ceremony ground to Gant-Monrovia parking.
He called on dire-hearted supporters of the lone female Senatorial Candidate to ensure security for their votes, if Madam Edith would be the next senator of Nimba County. Rep. Cole accused the ruling party backed candidate, Rep. Samuel Kogar of attempting to steal Madam Edith’s vote by all means, referencing past 2023 runoff elections between former ruling CDC and the governing Unity Party (UP) Government.
He cautioned voters of Madam Weh to be wise, stand still, and guide the electoral process to protect their votes after casting ballots. “Be around to protect your vote after voting on Tuesday. Do you know why? Because the ruling government is trying by all costs to steal your vote like they did in the 2023 election. This is time for a woman. Vote wisely my Nimba people…”
The Bong County’s District #3 policymaker on Saturday officially endorsed Madam Gongloe-Weh in her bid for the Senate seat in Nimba County. His endorsement brings to close Madam Weh’s election campaign rally.
However, the Nimba Senatorial By-election has been widely looked at as a political match between the ruling Unity Party and the former ruling CDC political party based on the 2023 Presidential Runoff Elections.
Endorsement and support
In support of Edith Gongloe-Weh senate bid, a coalition of women from across Liberia recently launched a nationwide campaign “She Deserves a Seat” for the only female candidate contesting the upcoming Nimba County Senatorial Byelection. The women’s declaration unified support for Gongloe-Weh, describing her candidacy as a defining moment for gender equality and democratic representation in Liberia, especially for Nimba County.
The campaign rallied support, raised funds, and mobilized citizens across all sectors, backing Gongloe-Weh’s bid for the Senate. Organizers say her candidacy represents more than a political contest–it is a symbol of inclusion, leadership, and the long-overdue representation of women in Liberia’s highest decision-making spaces.
Undermining Women Solidarity
Despite strides in women’s representation in powerful roles, a surprising number of key influential women in Nimba say standing tall against Madam Edith to lead the traditional seat of the county. Their deep-seated bias argument may be difficult to change in future elections if Nimba women fail to secure the seat in this particular by-election.
These women, including Superintendent Kou Meapeh Gono, former Representative candidate Sondah Geepea Wilson, former and longest-serving Sanniquellie Mayor Mary Nyan Gonlepa, former Nimba Superintendent Christina Dakadue and others opposed the only female senatorial candidate election.
According to them, Madam Weh is far from uniting the county and citizens, saying she cannot replace the high-profile hero and liberator of the county who died. They believe that the time for women to take on the senate seat is yet to come but not this crucial byelection that represents the critical voice of the county on national issues.
Women support women
During this year’s 69th International Women’s Day celebration in Nimba County, resilient women of the county committed to celebrating each other’s successes and ensuring that no woman is left behind in the journey toward gender equality. At the gathering, the women pledged to “Accelerate Action,” celebrating each other voices, and emphasizing the impact of women supporting women. They emphasized that when women support each other, they don’t just rise individually—they create a ripple effect that uplifts entire communities.
Meanwhile, supporters of Madam Edith have described the actions of key influential Nimba women to canvas against the lone female candidacy as a betrayal of trust and commitment to support women’s political participation. Focusing on the need to “Accelerate Action,” Edith campaigners highlighted the importance of women taking swift and decisive steps to achieve gender equality. “It calls for increased momentum and urgency in addressing the systemic barriers and biases that women face, both in personal and professional spheres.”
Weh campaigners said the time is now for women of Nimba to stand up to empower, and amplify women’s voices in the county to the national level, adding that voting for the female senatorial bid will ensure no woman’s story, wisdom, or expertise goes unheard on the national table. They challenged women to be able to network and best-selling other potential women voices, including Madam Gongloe-Weh to seek opportunities to share their leadership expertise, inspire change, and create a lasting legacy in national decision-making and development.
According to them, the power of women supporting women in every woman’s voice matters but in a society where gender bias still exists, women often need more than just opportunity they need support, encouragement, and a strong network of other women who will lift them up. Their statement, however, outlined the deep rooted tribal politics in Nimba County where there is no women representation in the Nimba Caucus.
Women make up more than half of Nimba County’s population, but there is not a single female in the House of Representatives neither the Senate after Liberia postwar. With united women, they can break the barrier, and compute with the male counterpart to achieve great advancements and overcome obstacles.
By working together, women can amplify their voices, advocate for gender equality, and push for positive change in their communities and societies as a whole.
Edith’s political career
Gongloe-Weh, a native of Gleayee Zorpea in Nimba County District #9, is a seasoned politician and former Superintendent of Nimba County. She has participated in the previous three unsuccessful elections for the senatorial seat and is seen by many as a trailblazer for women’s leadership in Nimba County and beyond.
Serving as Superintendent of Nimba, she assumed office in June 2009, succeeding the late Robert Kamei, and quickly embarked on transformative projects, including the renovation of the Superintendent’s compound and the construction of schools, town halls, and bridges. Her leadership was instrumental in Nimba County’s successful hosting of the 2010 July 26 celebrations and the county’s victories in the 2009/2010 National County Sports Meet.
A comprehensive and fact-checking election statistic conducted by Stage Media and NEC revealed the following data in the county body politics.
Edith Gongloe-Weh has contested three times for the Nimba Senate Seat (2011, 2014, and 2020), whereas this is Representative Samuel Kogar’s first attempt in a senatorial race. 2020 Special Senatorial Election, Madam Edith Gongloe-Weh obtained 34, 153 votes with a voter turnout of 302,843. The election was won by then-Rep. Jeremiah Kpan Koung of Nimba Electoral District #1.
2014 Special Senatorial Election: Madam Edith Gongloe-Weh secured 9,471 votes with voters turnout of 59,418. The late Senator Prince Y Johnson won the election at the time. 2011 Presidential and Legislative Elections: Madam Edith Gongloe-Weh got 42,061 votes with voters turnout of 174,453. The election was won by Thomas Grupee.
All the elections were won by people who were supported by the Late Senator Prince Y Johnson. In the 2024 By-Election, Senator Johnson first declared support for Mr. Twanyen before later deflecting to Rep Kogar who did not win. The April 22, 2025, Nimba Senatorial By-Election is the first that both Madam Edith Gongloe-Weh and Rep. Samuel Gongben Kogar will be competing for the Senatorial seat and it is also the first election that Senator Johnson will not provide support to any one of the candidates.
