Confusion at NPP primary

A venue for the National Patriotic Party (NPP’s) primary nearly turned a battle ground on Sunday, 29 April after some party members began making claims that the recent election of NPP’s Bong County chairman Mr. Alexander Johnson was illegal.

The primary which declared former Bong County Electoral District #6 Rep. Adam Bill Coneh as winner, ended in serious misunderstanding when some members of the party grouped themselves like militants to battle organizers of the primary.

The NPP which is one of three parties within the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) was conducting its primary ahead of pending Senatorial by – elections to fill gaps created in Montserrado and Bong Counties following the election of President George Manneh Weah and Vice President Jewel Howard – Taylor last year.

Conflict started during the controversial primary when some NPP coordinators described Mr. Johnson’s election as illegal.

A team of Scout Boys headed by NPP member Blamo Nelson started pushing organizers of the primary with support from some partisans who felt marginalized in the process.

A partisan of the NPP, Paul Wulah also pushed the head of the Press Union of Liberia Regional Coordinator Clarence Jackson after he instructed team of journalists to take photos.

Paul allegedly issued threats against anyone who refused to speak in his interest. Our Bong County correspondent says he had to disguise himself during the conflict especially when Paul Wulah started angrily searching for journalists.

Addressing journalists at the primary, several NPP coordinators in Bong County said they will not consider Mr. Johnson as NPP Chairman in the county due to claims that he was elected behind closed door.

Kollie Nah, Washington Bonah, Joseph Kolliemene and Dennis Childplay threatened to resist embattled Chairman Johnson whenever he attempts to host meeting with coordinators across the seven electoral districts in Bong County.

They are calling on the public not to do business with Mr. Johnson in the name of NPP. For his part, embattle Chairman Johnson describes the coordinators’ statements as senseless and has no iota of truth.

Mr. Johnson states that he was recently elected as Chairman of the Party in the presence of the party’s national leadership. He also calls on the public to ignore NPP coordinators and their followers that are opposed to his chairmanship.

By Joseph Titus Yekeryan in Bong–Edited by Winston W. Parley