By Lincoln G. Peters
Opposition Alternative National Congress (ANC) political leader Mr. Alexander B. Cummings says the dismantled Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) will field presidential and legislative candidates in 2023.
Cummings told Liberians Thursday, 9 June 2022 that it’s time to build the CPP with serious change.
“We, therefore, wish the Unity Party and the All-Liberian Party well in their future. Now, we must move ahead to continue the work of building the CPP with serious change partners to be the vehicle for real change in our country,” said Mr. Cummings.
He made the call barely a week after prosecutors dropped all criminal charges that prompted his trial in Monrovia for allegedly tampering with CPP’s framework document.
Cummings faced months of trial at the Monrovia City Court after being accused by All Liberian Party (ALP) political leader Benoni Urey of allegedly tampering with the CPP framework document.
Urey alleged that Cummings illegally attached his (Urey’s) signature to a photocopy version. But Cummings has always denied any wrongdoing.
Following months of prosecution, the State dropped all charges against Mr. Cummings last week based on a ruling by the Supreme Court of Liberia in another case involving the CPP.
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The high court had granted Unity Party (UP) and ALP the right to field candidates in their own name in the Lofa County Senatorial by-elections and other subsequent elections.
The Supreme Court’s ruling reversed a decision by the National Elections Commission (NEC) preventing the two parties from fielding candidates because of their withdrawals from the CPP.
The NEC had prevented UP and ALP based on a request by Cummings and a faction of the Liberty Party (LP) loyal to embattled chairman Musa Bility.
However, Mr. Cummings said Thursday that the conspiracy to stop the real change movement and destroy the CPP has failed.
“As … promised, the CPP will be on the ballot in 2023. We will win the elections and lead our country and people into [a] better future,’’ said Mr. Cummings.
He claimed that the conspiracy to destroy the CPP has finally failed through the legal system, adding that the political prosecution to weaken the CPP has instead made it strong.
Mr. Cummings indicated that the real aim of the political conspiracy was to keep the CPP entangled in court with a bogus charge over its head up to the 2023 elections period.
He extolled the Liberty Party and well-meaning Liberians for their support and prayer during the legal crisis.
He said those offended by CPP’s call for real change in managing the country with more accountabilities were weaponizing, eager and co-conspirators in prosecution to dishonor and smear his hard-earned reputation.
“As we forge forward, we will leave it to lawyers and historians to debate the unprecedented decision which counters previous decisions of the same to decelerate a provision in a wholly private agreement as “unconstitutional,” Cummings said.
“As a leader, we are obligated to honor the decision of the honorable Supreme Court even when we disagree,’’ Mr. Cummings said.https://thenewdawnliberia.com/cummings-defense-team-state-lacks-evidence/
