Following intervention in the National Patriotic Party (NPP’s) internal political bickering, the Governing Council of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) says it recognizes Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor as NPP’s standard-bearer.
In a statement released Tuesday, 8 November 2022, the CDC said it also recognizes Senator James Biney as Chairman of the NPP.
The CDC Governing Council explained that in recent months, the ruling party has been tackling disagreements surrounding the leadership within one of its constituent political parties, the NPP.
CDC is made up of President George Manneh Weah’s Congress for Democratic Change (CDC); Vice President Howard-Taylor’s NPP; and former House Speaker Alex Tyler’s Liberian People Democratic Party (LPDP).
Last month, violent clashes led to NPP, a former ruling party of imprisoned former President Charles Ghankay Taylor, holding separate conventions at the Paynesville City Hall.
The conventions were held by factions of the NPP loyal to Vice President Howard-Taylor, estranged wife of Mr. Taylor, and the embattled chairman of NPP Senator James Biney on the other hand.
That internal crisis led the ruling CDC to appoint a Dispute Resolution Committee to mediate lingering disharmonies within its constituent party, the NPP.
“Given that all sides in the NPP crisis have agreed to return to status quo ante in preparation for 2023 Elections, the Coalition for Democratic Change calls on all three parties to set up a 7-man delegation each to immediately commence discussions on details of the Coalition Framework Document,” the CDC Governing Council has mandated.
“The Governing Council recognizes H.E. Jewel Howard-Taylor as Standard-bearer of the NPP. The Governing Council recognizes Senator James Biney as Chairman of the NPP,” the release added.
It also mandated that the NPP standard-bearer Madam Howard-Taylor proceeds to nominate party members to fill all vacancies on the NPP Executive Committee.
“That deliberations on the Coalition Framework Document begins on December 10, 2022,” the release said further.
The ruling party explained that it acknowledges that these challenges confronting the NPP are but the normal political bickering characterizing political parties and their activities.
It made special reference to disagreements bordering on inclusive democratic framework for legitimate leadership formulation.
It said the CDC being a coherent, peaceful and united political structure welcomes the cooperation of leaders and stalwarts of the NPP, which it said appears to have emerged stronger out of recent disharmonies.
As the highest-level organ of the Coalition arrangement, the Governing Council said it is pleased to announce decisions reached consistent with the intervention of the Chairman of the Coalition Governing Council, President George Manneh Weah.
The CDC Governing Council also encourages all members of the NPP to take due cognizance of the announced measures as deliberations continue and join other members of constituent parties to mobilize in a gargantuan fashion for both November 12, 2022, Membership Dues Drive and the December 20, 2022, Nomination Day.
