MONROVIA – As the United People’s Party(UPP) embarks upon rebranding itself to return to its former stage of national reckoning, it has announced that some changes in the structure of the National Executive Committee have been made with the appointment of Mrs. Aretha M.B. Divine, previously the National Vice Chair for Gender Mainstreaming as Acting National Chairperson just as it passed a VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE in the leadership of then acting National Chairman Mrs. Susannah Lorpu Mator-Seton.
According to a press release issued yesterday, Thursday, October 27, 2022, signed and approved by Edward T. Farley and Edmond Ponpon, National Vice Chairman for Public Relations and National Vice Chairman for Administration respectively, “the decision of the Extended National Executive Committee was taken in line with Article 1.2 of the UPP Constitution which specifically states that members of the Party shall have the right to make, alter, reform and/or revise, in such manner as provided for in this Constitution, any provision herein, or cause Party leaders to fill or leave offices and/or change any Party policy that is contrary to, or would tend to undermine their common interests”.
“The United People’s Party keenly notes that Mrs. Susannah Lorpu Mator-Seton, not an elected executive member of the party, ascended to the UPP acting National Chairman position as a result of an earlier Extended National Executive Committee Resolution (No. 072021-1) passed on July 17, 2021, which occasioned the resignation of Hon. T.Q. Harris as National Chairman”, the statement said.
UPP said the latest Resolution passing a VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE in Mrs. Susannah Lorpu Mator-Seton, is due to her refusal, inter alia, to work in consultation with other members of the National Executive Committee, and her unilateral appointments of individuals of her liking to the National Executive Committee.
According to the Party, Mrs. Seton’s failure on several occasions to convene the 6th National Party Congress has led the Party to the verge of near-collapse due to her nonperformance.
“In view of the foregoing, the Extended National Executive Committee of the United People’s Party has appointed the National Vice Chairman for Gender Mainstreaming, Mrs. Aretha M.B. Divine, as Acting National Chairman of the Party.
“Mrs. Aretha M.B. Divine is further to reconstitute the National Executive Committee in consultation with other members of the National Executive Committee who will assist her in running the affairs of the Party and convening the 6th National Party Congress”, the party said.
Meanwhile, the Extended Executive Committee has suspended Article 36(d) of the UPP Constitution which states that the Secretary-General shall serve as first in succession of the Party leadership.