MONROVIA: The ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) is apparently not letting anything to chance in its bid not only to get reelected, but also to win on the first ballot which has been its clarion call to partisans and supporters since the commencement of campaign in early August this year.
Over the last six weeks of campaign, the CDC has done pretty well marshalling unprecedented swarms of Liberians to its rallies held already in seven counties—Montserrado, Bomi, Cape Mount, Gbarpolu, Margibi, Grand Bassa and Bong.
A unique and unusual strategy of the party has been a particular focus on a critical demography, first time voters, which is unarguably a huge portion of the youth segment of the Liberian population.
According to CDC sources, the civic education exercise, expressly intended to build more momentum amongst the youngest voters and to undermine invalid vote syndrome, is being held today, September 18, 2023 on 18th Street in Sinkor, Monrovia, a symbolism meant to promote and further popularize the 18th place of the CDC’s ticket on the 2023 elections ballot printed by the National Elections Commission.
The Musical Jamboree will be taking place later in the evening at the National Headquarters of the party. Officials told the Analyst the jamboree is to raise voters’ awareness while mobilizing massive support for the reelection of the President.
The organizers have tagged the program, “The Triple 18ners Meet and Chill”, and will bring together first-time voters from the 17 electoral districts of Montserrado County in the spirit of oneness.
They also indicated that the civic education will put specific emphasis on highlighting how voters will easily identify the number 18 on the ballot paper which is the placement of President Weah and running mate Jewel Howard Taylor on the ballot paper.
Immediately after the program, the young people will march to the National Headquarters of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) where an elaborate program that will feature District Dance Competition, musical jamboree and other light moments to keep them preoccupied with CDC-related electoral hints.
Accordingly, the gathering at the party headquarters will be used to map out strategies on how to network among themselves so as to enhance their activities which they intend to make more robust towards getting the votes out for the reelection of President George Manneh Weah they all consider “development hero, visionary and great leader”.
Various groups of the first time voters organized across the counties have spoken exceptionally well of President Weah and his administration, stating they were getting directly involved in the vigorous campaign to reelect him for being thoughtful in giving direction to them who are Liberia’s future leaders.
They recounted a couple of development policies and programs that they claim have directly impacted them and their parents; weightlifting investments in education that include WASSCE fees payment for 12th and 9th graders throughout the country and free tuition initiative in public higher institutions in the country, digitization of registration at the University of Liberia, amongst others.
“This is unprecedented in the history of this country, which is why we have joined forces to reelect this president on the first ballot so that he sustains the tempo for the promotion of the welfare of the future leaders of this country,” a female first-time voter said in a statement in Bomi County. “We see the administration’s pro-youth programs as overwhelming and positive bearing on the national development of this country.”
A youth spokesperson in Bong Mines, Lower Bong County, noted: “It is a fact that the young people of this country, especially our age bracket constitute about 65% of the population. That means if we must take the country to the next level for transformation, governments need to invest enormously in the young people and that is exactly what President George Manneh Weah is doing and we must support him.”
For his part, a first-time voter spokesman, this time at a rally in Gbarpolu, said: “Over the years President Weah has been in charge of this country, we have benefitted immensely and it is high time we reciprocate to keep him for the next 6 years so as to consolidate on the gains of the first term. Hence our resolve is to ensure he is reelected.”
The Secretary General of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), Jefferson Tamba Koijjee, in an interview with The Analyst yesterday, confirmed the program and gave further details of what the program will entail which according to him was unveiled to him.
”Yes, there will be activities for the first time voters who have come forward on their own volition to be integral parts of our campaign to reelect President George Manneh Weah,” he said in a brief interview last night.
“It will be a strategic engagement of the young people when they converge on 18th Street to acknowledge the number 18 on the ballot box and strategize to further push their resolve to support our cause on October 10, 2023.”
“After the program, they will march majestically to the national headquarters of our great party, the Mighty Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) where they will receive campaign materials and other promotional items of the party,” the CDC Chief Scribe said.
“There will be a musical jamboree where top stars such as Bucky Raw, Christoph the Change and other big stars will be releasing their new music called The Hope. There will also be a district dance competition among the young people. Surely, it will be a memorable event,” he said.
Since the commencement of his national campaign where he has gone to a number of counties, President George Manneh Weah has been receiving a number of endorsements on every occasion from the first time voters, majority of whom are beneficiaries of his WASSCE payment and free tuition initiative in public higher institutions in the country.