Senator Prince Yormie Johnson endorses Nimba County District One Representative Jeremiah Kpan Koung for the 2020 senatorial race.
Senator Johnson, political leader of the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction or MDR is rallying newly elected lawmakers in the House of Representatives from Nimba County to elect Representative Koung to the senate.The Liberian Senate gears up for midterm senatorial election next year.
It is not clear whether Senator Johnson, currently concluding two nine-year terms in office is considering seeking another mandate from his kinsmen, Nimba County District Four Representative Gunpue L. Kargon told reporters in Gbor-Zuoplay, Nimba where he had gone to celebrate the New Year with citizens, that PYJ has mandated lawmakers hailing from the county to support the senatorial bid of Representative Jeremiah Koung, who has expressed interest in contesting for a seat in the senate.
Newly elected lawmakers from Nimba have cautiously consented to the mandate from Senator Prince Johnson, expressing fear they risk not getting a second term in the House, if they did not comply accordingly, as PYJ still commands huge political influence in Nimba County.
Out of the nine lawmakers from the county, five are new in the House, while four are completing their second term.Among the nine lawmakers, only Representative Jeremiah Kpain Koung’s election was heavily influenced by Senator Johnson, who cried on the people of Nimba, especially from District One for their votes.
Some of the ‘just come’ lawmakers who have heeded the call from PYJ include Gunpue L. Kargon of District Four, Roger S.W.Y. Domah of District Seven, and Districts Six and Nine Representatives, respectively.
However, the rest of the Nimba lawmakers have vowed that Senator Johnson would not politically control them as they are citizens with independent minds.Those refusing to follow the bandwagon are Representatives Prince O.S. Tokpa of District Two, Samuel G. Kogar of District Five, and Larry P. Youngquoi of District Eight, respectively.
PYJ, a former warlord, had threatened to deal with Representative Youngquoi and other citizens of Nimba, who are supportive of calls for the establishment of a war crimes tribunal for Liberia by personally going after them in their homes.
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Meanwhile, several sons and daughters of Nimba have expressed interest in vying for the senate in 2020. They include Senator Thomas S. Grupee, who is seeking re-election, Mr. Taa Wongbe of the opposition Alternative National Congress (ANC), former Superintendent Edith Gongloe Wehyee, and incumbent Superintendent Dorr Cooper.
By Thomas Domah/Nimba–Editing by Jonathan Browne
