Debate is growing in Nimba County on who to elect to fill a seat in the Liberian Senate made vacant by the death of long-time Senator, Prince Yormie Johnson.
By Thomas Domah, Nimba County
Nimba, Liberia, March 26, 2025 – As Nimba County gears up for a crucial senatorial by-election on April 22, 2025 to replace late Senator Prince Yormie Johnson, debate continues among Nimbaians, who to elect to complete the nine-year term of the late PYJ, who was fond of calling himself “godfather” of Nimba politics.
The late Sen. Johnson, kingmaker and founder of the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction died last year when he collapsed suddenly at his residence in Paynesville outside Monrovia. He was poised to spend 27 years in the senate, having already served two 9-year terms since 2005.
A NEW DAWN’s survey gathered that out of a total of nine Representatives from the county, six alongside current lone Senator Nya D. Twayen, Jr., are supporting the senatorial bid of Representative Samuel Kogar.
Out of 11 caucus members, only two are looking elsewhere, including Representative Taa Wongbay of District#9, who is supporting the only female in the race Madam Edith Google Wehyee, while Representative Musa Hassan Bility has, for obvious reason, thrown weight behind his newly formed Citizens Movement for Change (CMC’s) candidate, former county inspector Mack Gbliwon.
However, the pending senatorial by-election promises to be a competitive race, as four out of the eight candidates vying continue to receive huge endorsement on a daily basis.
They include Representative Samuel Kogar from the late Senator PYJ’s MDR, who is said to be receiving significant from citizens, including Vice President Jeremiah Koung, followed by Former Superintendent Edith Gongloe-Wehyee, who is being endorsed by rural women and men across Nimba; Former District#4 Representative, Cllr. Garrison Yealu and Former County Inspector, B. Mack Gbliwon.
The recent endorsement from Vice President Koung is reportedly boosting Representative Samuel Kogar’s bid for the county’s vacant seat, as Nimbaians are now focusing on him as the most suitable candidate to replace the late Senator Johnson.
In his recent endorsement statement, Vice President Jeremiah Koung asked Nimbaians, including his supporters to follow Representative Kogar.
However, critics say electing Kogar from the House of Representatives to the Senate would lead to another by-election that may put strain on the country’s ailing budget.
According to Vice President Jeremiah Koung, the late Senator Prince Johnson was a member of the Gio tribe, and to honor his legacy Kogar, who is also a Gio, should be elected to continue the fallen leader’s dream.
But former Presidential candidate, Cllr. Tiawan Saye Gongloe, who also hails from Nimba, and is brother of Madam Edith Gongloe Wheyee, says the ruling Unity Party and its alliance, the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction already have a representation in the Liberian Senate that hails from Nimba, arguing that for a truly balanced representation of the people, the opposition must also hold a seat in the senate chamber.
“Let us send a clear message: Nimba is a county where everyone—regardless of gender, district, or political affiliation—can serve. In this spirit, it is equally vital that the politically-marginalized population of Nimba County—including women, and members of the Krahn, Mandingo, Kpelleh, and Bassa (Gbi and Doru) ethnic groups—be made to feel that they are an inclusive part of Nimba County” Cllr. Gongloe underscores.
“You have seven qualified opposition candidates from whom to choose, but among these, there is a unique candidate, a woman who once served admirably as Superintendent of our county and has come second in three previous senatorial elections. Notably, there is no woman in the Nimba Legislative Caucus. Edith Gongloe-Weh not only hails from Yarwin-Mehnsonnoh Statutory District—one of the districts yet to produce a senator—but she is also the sole female candidate in this race. I’m urging you to vote Madam Edith Gongloe Weh. She is our best path to inclusive, balanced, and forward-looking leadership in the Senate”, he urges.
This is Representative Kogar’s second time vying for the senate, while the only female candidate, Madam Edith Gongloe Wehyee, is contesting for the fourth time. Editing by Jonathan Browne
