UP candidate backs off

Unity Party’s Montserrado County senatorial aspirant, Ali Sylla, has withdrawn from the pending senatorial race due to “medical reason.” In a statement Wednesday, Mr. Sylla’s “Political Action Committee cited medical reasons for his pullout from the race.

The statement reads: USA-The Ali Sylla Political Action Committee (ASPAC) regrets to inform all our supporters and well-wishers that our candidate Hon. Ali Sylla has withdrawn his candidacy from the forthcoming Montserrado County midterm Senatorial election. This decision comes as a result of the urgent need to seek medical attention as advice of his doctor and after a series of consultations with family members, well-wishers, friends, as well as party officials.”

“Our candidate, also a member of the Unity Party, said that although his candidature was overwhelmingly endorsed by partisans of the UP after a competitive and democratic process, he regrets that this time around, he will not be in the position to contest due to ill health. Our candidate remains loyal to the Unity Party and will continue to be supportive of the party’s programs geared towards socio-economic development of Liberia”, the statement added.

It expressed gratitude to officials and members of the Unity Party as well as executives and members of ASPAC for the confidence reposed in Mr. Sylla during the process, while promising Sylla is prepared to be of service to the party in different capacities whenever called upon.

Sylla’s candidacy has been marked with controversy since the son of the President, Robert Sirleaf, joined the crowded race as an independent candidate. Political analysts have noted that Sylla has boarded an unsafe boat right from the onset as there is no way that the governing UP would second Mr. Robert Sirleaf, son of its standard bearer, President Sirleaf to a Sylla in what promises to be a highly contested poll for Montserrado.

Sylla was among big names like football legend George Weah, Dr. Christopher  Neyor, former head of the National Oil Company of Liberia, Benjamin Sanvee of the opposition Liberty Party and the incumbent Joyce Musu Freeman, and Nathaniel Blama of the EPA.