The ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) has conceded defeat in Tuesday’s ( December 8th ) senatorial election and congratulated Montserrado County Senator-elect, Darius Dillon.
Addressing a news conference Monday at the headquarters of the CDC in Monrovia, December 14, national chairman MulbahMorlu said consistent with call by President George Manneh Weah and tradition of democratic culture in free democratic societies, Representative Thomas P. Fallah, CDC candidate has congratulated Senator Dillon of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) for his victory and pledged his commitment to work together as lawmakers in moving Liberia forward.
“This is the first time that a defeated candidate in the history of Liberia is congratulating his opponent before the official declaration of results by the NEC,” Morlu claimed, but his assertion is unfounded.
Just a day after the poll, one of the candidates for the Montserrado senatorial seat, Sheikh Al-Mustapha Kouyateh, congratulated Dillon thru a facebook post.
However, chairman Morlu said the CDC will continue to work harder to enhance Liberia’s democracy, protect the peace and achieve economic development and transformation.
“On behalf of the President and leadership of the Coalition, let me publicly thank and pay homage to all Liberians and our loyal and committed partisans, well-wishers and sympathizers who turned out to support our campaign and to vote for the CDC throughout Liberia. To CDCIANS you fought a hard fight but this is the nature of free fair and transparent democracy that is flourishing under the CDC. The truth is that mid-term elections the world over are tough on ruling parties and here in Liberia the electoral history confirms that. The Unity Party for example did not win Montserrado County though-out its tenure but went to win a two-term presidency,” he added.
He argued the defeat of the ruling party in Montserrado, does in no way indicate voters are making judgment against President Weah, rather, they are sending a message to the CDC and its government to address challenges and concerns of the Liberian people in a manner that would secure their trust.
Morlu said the CDC and the government have received this message well and that outcomes will be shown in weeks, months and years ahead as they push harder to meet service delivery and economic needs of the people.
He said in the post-election environment, Liberians should all remain committed to protecting the peace and promoting the country’s image, while detailing clearly what image is there when insecurity looms and the administration is saturated with corruption at all levels, generating international sanctions for specific officials, the latest being Senator H. Varney Sherman.
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Morlu noted the CDC and its collaborators are likely to win four counties, while the CPP is likely to win six counties and independent candidates are likely to win four counties, saying this is a great combination for all to work for Liberia in the years ahead.
Her said those elected should be given chance to govern so that results may be judged at the end of the day, cautioning against use of protests as strategy to thwart governance.
He called on CDCIANS to work harder to build a more vibrant, inclusive and broad based coalition. The party’s heart goes out to all partisans who worked and campaigned tirelessly throughout Liberia.
“We faced challenges in our coalition which may have undermined our political efforts but we are committed to resolving those challenges and to building a stronger Coalition. We will build a better coalition, improve our governance, deliver better services, and go on to win in 2023! Let me extend special thanks to our illustrious Standard Bearer and President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency Dr. George Manneh Weah, for his support to the CDC during these elections. Mr. President, let me say that you remain a beacon of peace and democracy in Liberia and great things will continue to happen under your leadership. Take heart as you continue to work for the people of Liberia,” he concluded.
By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor–Editing by Jonathan Browne
