Liberia: NPP Warns CDC Against Meddling in Its Internal Affairs

The National Patriotic Party (NPP) has warned the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) as well as the Liberia People’s Democratic Party (LPDP) to stop interfering with its internal issues.

NPP is a constituent party of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), led by President George Weah. The warning by the former ruling political party came after a mediation committee was set by the CDC (Coalition) to look into circumstances that led to the crisis following its seventh biennial convention held on October 7 and 8.

During the convention, a commotion ensued, leading to a split between Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor and Senator James Biney, which saw some partisans sustain injuries. With the unfolding, CDC, under the chairmanship of Mulbah K. Morlu, set up a mediation committee to look into circumstances that led to the crisis and find a way of helping to settle the conflict within, but NPP seems not to be happy with the decision as it has come public, calling on Morlu and others to keep away from NPP’s internal affairs.

"During a mass gathering at the NPP Headquarters on October 29, in Congo Town, the county chairs, coordinators, and hundreds of other partisans reminded President George Weah and the other two constituent parties (Congress for Democratic Change and Liberian People’s Democratic Party) that, in keeping with the coalition agreement, the NPP, like any of the three constituent parties, is an independent and responsible political party with the right to decide its leadership and path of governance without the intervention and/or interference of the government or any of the other two parties," the newly elected National Chairman of the NPP, Cllr. Stanley Kparkilen said.

The NPP partisans vowed to resist any attempt by anybody no matter his or her position, to impose on them a leadership that does not enjoy the blessing and confidence of the people.

Some key partisans were heard threatening not to participate in the impending December endorsement program for Weah's re-election bid and the 2023 campaign for the CDC if the leadership of the governing authorities and the Coalition for Democratic Change attempt to impose an unwanted leadership on the NPP.

"County Chairs and District Coordinators of the former governing National Patriotic Party, have reaffirmed the result of the NPP's October 7, convention, which has replaced Senator James Biney and Andrew Peters as National Chairman and National Secretary General of the party respectively," Kparkilen said.

"The NPP executives and partisans sent a resounding message to President George Weah, cautioning him not to be misled by those they referred to as selfish and visionless characters who are bent on painting a fake picture of what the realities of the party's position."

Earlier, Kparkilen vowed that his leadership remains committed to upholding the will and desire of the majority, and is also committed to reuniting the NPP as the nation prepares for the much anticipated 2023 elections that would ensure the reelection of the Weah-Howard Taylor ticket.

Some of the angry NPP partisans, speaking to reporters after the press conference, accused the mediation committee set up by the Coalition for Democratic Change of playing a double standard game by preferring a status quo ante resolution method which the partisans view as an attempt to undermine the democratic will of the people.

They (partisans) have hailed and endorsed the reaffirmation of the newly elected officials by the coordinators and county chairs. Sources close to the national leadership of governing Coalition for Democratic Change have hinted that the leadership of the coalition, apparently influenced by powerful people, is favoring a resolution method that requires all parties to go back to the status quo ante, meaning Biney remains National Chairman and Howard Taylor remaining the Standard Bearer until the 2023 elections.