Liberia: Cummings Defends “Neutral Stance” in Runoff Election
…. “I felt that it was important not to publicly endorse anybody and let the Liberian people decide so that we can remain balanced and objective in the process,” he said.
Alexander Cummings, the presidential candidate of the opposition Collaborating Political Parties (CPP), has revealed that the rationale behind his decision not to endorse President George Weah and Joseph Boakai in the runoff elections was to ensure that Liberians decide their “own fate.”
Cummings, who did not disclose who he voted for, emphasized his deep belief in democracy, stating the importance of staying out of the picture to allow the Liberian people to choose their leaders without any influence.
“I felt that it was important not to publicly endorse anybody and let the Liberian people decide so that we can remain balanced and objective in the process,” Cummings remarks after voting at the Nancy B. Doe School in the Old Matadi Community, Sinkor on November 14.
According to Cummings, his endorsement could potentially sway voters and influence the outcome, saying “it was not his place to interfere in such a crucial decision for the nation.”
By remaining neutral, Cummings noted that aimed to create an environment where voters could critically evaluate the policies, track records, and visions of both Weah and Boakai without any external bias.
“I wanted Liberians to have an unobstructed opportunity to assess each candidate’s ability to address pressing issues such as economic development, corruption, healthcare, education, and infrastructure,” he said.
Cummings also acknowledged that his neutrality would allow him to maintain a strong position as a unifying force within the opposition.
Despite choosing to remain neutral, Cummings has previously expressed his willingness to support an opposition candidate if he fails to make it to the second round. However, he faces difficulties in standing by his previous position due to his strained relationship with Boakai, who testified against him in court regarding a controversy over the CPP framework documents.
On one hand, Cummings has been critical of the Weah administration, becoming the most vocal in the opposition and repeatedly warning that the reelection of the President would be detrimental to Liberia, citing alleged "incompetence." Cummings' neutrality, however, comes after a dismal performance during the October 10 polls, where his share of the vote is 29,613, constituting 1.61%, far below the vote he got during the 2017 elections.
While Cummings did not endorse any one candidate—his party, the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP), pledged its support for Weah—a decision he says he respects. The Collaboration, he noted then, is a democratic institution, and as such, the overwhelming majority decision is final, which he respects but will not endorse.
His party decision, however, came after he had set up a Committee of Five that held discussions with the Weah ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) and Boakai Unity Party (UP)
. The "object of those discussions," Cummings said, was to get the buy-in of the two parties for the incorporation and "implementation of some important elements" needed for the improvement of the country's governance space and the lives of all Liberians. It is, however, unclear whether or not the ruling party made any commitment to incorporating the 12-point agenda, which focuses on the campaign policies of Cummings.
The 12-point agenda, among others, called for a commitment to gender equality, a loan scheme for business development, the establishment of a war and economic crimes court, a review of the Liberian Constitution to strengthen democratic governance, as well as reforming the judiciary to strengthen independence and the establishment of a claims court.
At the same time, some Liberians have argued that Cummings voting on Tuesday did not show or prove that he was neutral in the process.
"If Mr. Cummings really wanted to stay neutral, there is no need for him to vote. For me, who knows that he voted for President George M. Weah?" some Liberians said.
In any case, he has urged the two candidates in the run-off that any issues arising after this election "should be resolved through the legal process because we want Liberia to remain peaceful."