Liberia: Nya Twayen Is Nimba’s Senator-Elect
— But is his victory the beginning of the end of PYJ’s grip over the County?
In a surprising turn of events, senatorial candidate Nya Twayen is Nimba County senator-elect, securing a decisive victory, defying the political influence of Senator Prince Y. Johnson, known as the godfather of the vote-rich county.
Despite Johnson’s grip over Nimba and his party’s refusal to support the ruling Unity Party (UP) candidate, Twayen emerged victorious in the by-elections, preliminary results announced by the National Elections Commission (NEC) show.
Meanwhile, in a show of good sportsmanship and unity, Senator Johnson has congratulated Twayen.
NEC Chairperson Davidetta Brown Lassan disclosed that the UP Candidate obtained 66,516 votes while his closest challenger Samuel Kogar got 37,557 votes from 706 out of 736 polling places counted so far. This means Twayen secured 28,959 votes ahead of his rival, Kogar.
The NEC Chair also noted that the final result from the Nimba County by-election will be announced today.
Twayen’s victory is historic as it is the first time for a candidate to win against the will of Senator Johnson. The controversial political figure refused to support the ruling party’s candidate despite him and his MDR being in a political alliance with the UP. The senator, who has since been sanctioned by the government of the United States for his political manipulations, is often accused of tribal bigotry and political machination.
On Wednesday, March 20, 2024, Senator Johnson invited Representative Kogar to his office with the explicit intention of endorsing his candidacy in the Nimba County by-elections. This decision follows a previous meeting with the other candidate, Nya Twayen.
In his statement, Senator Johnson cited Representative Kogar’s stance against the call for a war crimes court, as evidenced by his refusal to sign a recent resolution endorsed by the House of Representatives, as the basis for his endorsement. Despite acknowledging past differences with Kogar, Senator Johnson expressed his preference for him over other candidates due to his anti-war crimes court stance. He emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and highlighted the challenges faced by the populace, such as unemployment and suffering.
Johnson described Kogar as his brother from Gomaplay, and that he was the best person to represent the people of Nimba County.
Senator Johnson, who has held significant sway in Nimba since the post-war era, traditionally endorses winning candidates in the county. However, Twayen’s success over Samuel Kogar, Johnson's preferred choice for the senatorial seat, marks a departure from this long-standing trend.
“Nya D. Twayen Jr.’s Victory in Nimba is a defiance against the fist of tribal bigotry and political machination,” a Facebook user who goes by the name Wil Fred, wrote on Thursday. “Nya chopped off the ugly hands of divisiveness, untamed ego, and political blackmail.”
He continued, “Before our eyes, Nya has changed the political history of post-conflict Liberia-Nya killed a lion with his bare hands. The people of Nimba stood their ground. They sent a message through their votes, and never again they will be used, bullied, and treated as guinea pigs. This is the beginning of the end of the political masquerade. In our lifetime, we will witness the end of the wicked king.
“Grateful to God”
Twayen on Thursday, April 25, thanked God for the victory and congratulated the people of Nimba for being decisive at the polls. First on his agenda is to reconcile the people of Nimba, who have been pitted against each other by politicians for so long.
“I’m grateful to the almighty God for this victory,” Twayen wrote on his Facebook page. “It’s a humbling moment for me and my priority is to work with everyone to reconcile and unite the people of Nimba.”
He said that the way Nimbaians voted sent a clear message that the “ugly face of tribal politics is becoming a thing of the past; this new beginning should break grounds for new thinking and new ways of doing things to improve the lives of our people.”
“I cannot thank everyone enough whose support and hard work made all this possible; we will speak to the press and our people at the appropriate time the soonest,” he said.
Meanwhile, the outcome of the Nimba County senatorial election signifies a potential shift in political dynamics in Nimba County and suggests a diminishing hold of power by Senator Johnson. Twayen’s victory could signal a new chapter for the county, challenging the entrenched influence of PYJ, as Senator Johnson is popularly known.