PUL Elects New Leader Following Years of Stalemate -President-Elect Sees New Dawn, ‘PUL of Opportunities’
Liberian journalists have finally elected a new president, Julius Kanubah, who emerged victorious at the weekend Special Congress organized by their umbrella organization, Press Union of Liberia (PUL), following nearly two years of imbroglio over elections dispute and lingering litigation in court.
Report says the contestations were tough and long overdue particularly between the victor and his longtime rival, former Press PUL Vice President Daniel Nyakonah, when both clashed Saturday, September 21, at the Effort Baptist School in Paynesville outside Monrovia.
Unlike Akoi Baysah and Julius Kontoe who vied for the secretary-general and assistant secretary positions respectively on the white ballot, the elections un-favoured Daniel and his running mate, Bettie Johnson Mbayo who contested for the vice presidential position.
During the elections, Kontoe earned 115 votes, Akoi 163; Julius 185 and Beatrice Sieh who ran for vice presidency alongside Julius won with total votes of 160 while Nyakonah and Mbayo lost with 29 and 33 votes respectively.
What could be seen as a reiteration of his campaign mantra to midwife a “new PUL of opportunities”, the newly elected president of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL), Julius Kanubah, moments after being declared officially as the winner of the 2022 congressional presidential elections, raised the hope of the media community with an assertion that he would quickly move to address issues that “affect the soul of the of struggling Union”.
Speaking to the media at the Congress, shortly after he was declared the eventual winner of the presidential race, Julius Kanubah, who was obviously in a joyous mood said his electoral promise remains intact and as soon as inauguration formalities are finalized, he would swing into action to ensure that the mandate given to him by his fellow media colleagues be honored by reciprocating for the confidence reposed in him in doing what he had promised during the campaign for the Union.
“You can rest assured that my commitment to you will remain intact,” he averred. “Sanity must see the face of our noble PUL.”
The PUL 2024 Special Congress was organized to undo the irregularities that took place during the 2022 Gbarnga Congress which landed the electoral process in the longstanding legal battle.
There were several debates among Liberian journalists ranging from 2022 Gbarnga Congress which was later rescinded by the court based on a complaint filed by “Team Julius Kanubah” pointing out irregularities and electoral frauds by his opponent and heads of the electoral body – claiming that the elections were fraudulent.
After several months of investigations including court procedures and legal battles, the court ruled based on evidence provided by the aggrieved team, where an injunction was placed on the election held in Gbarnga.
The Court instructed the acting leadership of the Union headed by veteran Liberian Journalist Peter Quaqua to call for a re-run of elections in 2024 not later than December.
Many observers say the Kanubah victory has been characterized as a democratic process found to be free and fair, where every member of the union was given the opportunity to exercise their franchise, a fundamental right.
Liberian Journalists are now hoping that the new leadership will bring a total transformation where every journalist across the country and that every member of the PUL will feel the impact of their noble Union’s programs and activities.
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