MONROVIA – The National Elections Commission (NEC) on August 14, 2020 certificated the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) as a full-fledged political institution. The certification of the CPP follows the coming together of the Unity Party, the Alternative National Congress, the Liberty Party and the All Liberian Party that earlier forged a common front within a collaborative framework mechanism. The certification event was marked by intense jubilation as a grand procession of CPP partisans weaved their way from the ANC and CPP presiding headquarters at the Airfield Junction in Sinkor, to the headquarters of the National Elections Commission on 9th Street Sinkor, to witness the auspicious program.
Presenting the CPP their certificate, NEC Chairperson, Madam Davidetta Browne-Lansannah, said the party has met all legal requirements in accordance with the constitution of the Republic of Liberia and the elections laws on alliances, specifically Section 8.5.
“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, following a through and in-depth process I am pleased to inform you that the proposed alliance by the UP, ALP, LP and ANC have met all the legal requirement to be certificated as a political alliance to be called the Collaborating Political Parties.”
According to Article 79 of the 1986 Liberian constitution: “No association, by whatever name called, shall function as a political party, nor shall any citizen be an independent candidate for election to public office, unless: a. the association or independent candidate and his organization meet the minimum registration requirements laid down by the Elections Commission and are registered with it”.
Section 8.5 of the new electoral law also states: “Registered political parties may be allowed to form alliances and coalitions as provided by this Section. (1) Procedure registered political parties wishing to form an alliance or coalition shall each pass a resolution consenting to the alliance or coalition signed by an absolute majority (50% of the votes plus one vote) of the members of the executive committee; (2) Plan of alliance or coalition-The Executive Committee of each registered political party proposed to participate in the alliance or coalition shall approve a plan of alliance or coalition setting forth: (a) The name of each constituent registered political party (b) Terms and conditions of the proposed alliance or coalition, including the intended duration of the alliance or coalition and the (c) filing of plan of alliance or coalition.
Following the certification program, the CPP partisans again made their way back to the ANC headquarters in an excitingly jubilant mood, where a formal program was held commemorating the party’s historic certification.
At the program, former Vice President Joseph Nyumah Boakai among other things lamented the current downward spiral of the Liberian economy amidst the grinding lack of social services. “We cannot have a country 173 years with no roads, no defined education system. It is not that we don’t know it, but we need leadership that will direct the country,” he said.
Ambassador Boakai further called on the CPP partisans to remain united and work against hampering the CPP’s chances in the upcoming midterm senatorial elections and the 2023 presidential and general elections. “The CPP will not work if you don’t encourage the leaders. The voices you utter, the divisive words that you utter, will make or break the CPP. It is not how many cars individuals can have but what we can do to showcase our country,” Ambassador Boakai cautioned.
Promising that the Unity Party is fully prepared to work with all other parties within the collaboration, Ambassador Boakai said, “As for the Unity Party, there’s no shaking, we are with the CPP and will submit to all that we have agreed to. We have to work a lot to ensure that this happens, and we want to work to keep it,” he promised.
ANC political leader and CPP chairman, Mr. Alexander B. Cummings, also called on the CPP partisans to do things differently if Liberia must become better.
“We want to thank the Liberian people for believing in us and as we look ahead, we have to do things differently in Liberia if we desire a better country. We cannot use the same thinking that got us to this point. We need all Liberians to work together to develop our country. This is just the beginning of the journey, and we need to work hard to ensure that this collaboration works and for the transformation of this country.”