Liberia: Lawmakers Shifting Constituencies

Montserrado County District # 12 Representative Dr. George Beyan Samah has retracted his statement of wanting to contest the senatorial race in Lofa County and has disclosed his intention to seek reelection in his district in the 2023 general Presidential and Legislative elections.

Representative Samah has served his district since 2017. But prior to the Special 2020 Senatorial Election, the Montserrado County lawmaker publicized his intention for the senatorial race in Lofa, with evidence of developmental initiatives he undertook in that northwestern county. However, unfortunately, he did not meet the schedule to register to enable him to participate.

With Rep. Samah's non-participation, it means the two members of the House of Representatives who contested the 2020 senatorial race are Lofa’s Representatives; namely Rep. Julie Wiah of District #2 and Rep. Mariamu Fofana of District #4.

Nonetheless, there were still speculations throughout the five electoral districts in Lofa County that Rep. Samah’s failure to contest in 2020 was aimed to get the representative fully prepared for the pending 2023 elections. However, his latest announcement had put to bed the hearsay.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Observer recently at his Capitol office, Rep. Samah said: “After careful thought and reflection, I have decided not to contest the Senatorial election in Lofa, but to seek for reelection in Montserrado District #12. I want to focus all of our financial capacities toward completing my projects in the district, including the US$80,000 school project.”

He added: “To divert valuable resources towards a campaign in another county, instead of my district, will be a betrayal to the people who have reposed their confidence in me.”

Unlike Rep. Samah, who had refused not to be tight-lipped or

taciturn, there are three other representatives who are opting to leave their respective districts to contest in other political subdivisions but remain reticent for now.

Since former Speaker and Montserrado County District #5, Sen. Edwin M. Snowe, Jr., made the unprecedented move to become the only representative to contest in two counties’ district elections and won and represented two districts in two separate political subdivisions and subsequently became senator, some incumbents, especially representatives, have joined the wagon.

Accordingly, there are speculations that three-term Montserrado County Representative (2006 - present), Rep. Thomas P. Fallah, is expected to contest in District #1, Lofa County in the 2023 election. 

Also, Montserrado District #17 Rep. Hanson Kiazolu is planning to contest the senatorial seat in Grand Cape Mount County.  Montserrado County District #8 Representative Acarous M. Gray appears to be indecisive as to whether to contest in Grand Cape Mount County or seek reelection in his current district.

On the other hand, though not yet clear, Maryland County Representative and House Speaker Bhofal Chambers may contest the Senatorial seat of his county.

If the hearsay is true, he will challenge Senator Gbleh Bo Brown for the second time. Sen. Brown, the former Superintendent, emerged victorious over the popular candidate, Dr. Chambers in 2014.

Meanwhile, since the election of the first representative (Sen. Saah Joseph) to contest and become a senator, the desires of members of the House of Representatives to exercise their progressive ambition have increased. But many political connoisseurs think that the process of decision making is fluid and individualistic. There are arguments that most of the incumbent representatives who intend to contest the senatorial election ambitions are prompted by their financial potency and to promote themselves.