As ALCOP Endorses UP’s Boakai For The Nov. 14 Runoff Election
PHOTO: ALCOP Leader Lusinee Kamara Rallies Supporters for Boakai’s presidential runoff bid
By Our Staff Writer
With the endorsement of the presidential runoff ticket of Joseph Boakai, presidential candidate of the main opposition Unity Party (UP) for the November 14, 2023 runoff election, supporters of ALCOP have joined the campaign team of the former Liberian Vice President.
The leader of ALCOP, Lusinee Kamara, who came fourth in the October 10 polls, formally declared the party’s endorsement of Boakai at a big ceremony held at his party’s headquarters in the Gardnersville suburb of Monrovia on Thursday, November 2, 2023.
“We are excited and happy to endorse the Rescue Mission headed by Amb. Joseph Nyumah Boakai. We believe from our conversation with … both candidates in the run-off that he has all it takes to change, develop, and transform Liberia,” said Mr. Kamara, amidst thunderous applause from hundreds of both ALCOP and UP supporters who had gathered for the occasion.
Because both the incumbent President George Weah of the ruling CDC and the main opposition UP candidate, Joseph Boakai, the top two in the race failed to get the required 50% plus one vote on October 10, both have to face each other in the second round political race.
NEC’s Chairperson Davidetta Browne Lansanah told a news conference in Monrovia that with 100% of the 5,900 polling places received and tallied, are neck and neck with 43.83% and 43.44% respectively. No Outright Winner In Oct. 10 Pres. Polls: NEC Sets Nov. 14 For Weah-Boakai Runoff Election – News Public Trust
Reading the endorsement statement on November 2, 2023, the ALCOP Standard Bearers who was one-time Liberian Finance Minister, Lusinee Kamara said his party’s decision to back the UP in the upcoming runoff elections is based on the national roadmap that UP has developed for Liberia.
“Now, I’m calling on everyone from ALCOP to go all out, campaign, and ensure that we make him President to rescue our country,” the ALCOP leader rallied his supporters.
Looking visibly energized by this latest endorsement, UP leader Jospeh Boakai thanked Mr. Kamara and the entire leadership of ALCOP and for their decision to support UP in the second round.
“We assemble here on this historic day to witness a noble and patriotic move that will embolden our effort to RESCUE this nation from the depths of degradation to which the current wasteful and corrupt conglomeration of incompetent and nonchalant characters have pushed it,” the UP presidential candidate Boakai asserted.
Mr. Boakai said the UP and ALCOP have come together at this time to bind their energies with all hands-on deck, in order to restore what the past devastating six years of misrule have left of the nation.
“I should spare no time therefore to stretch my arms in warm embrace and humble acceptance of your historic ENDORSEMENT of the tenets, precepts, and concept of the RESCUE MISSION as heralded by your fraternal Unity Party,” the former Liberian Vice President noted.
Noting that the undertaking was no easy one, Mr. Boakai said he accepted the notably nationalistic endorsement.
“The resolve on the other side of the aisle to keep this country under the sway of malfeasance, thievery, and total mismanagement is no less strong,” Boakai cautioned.
Last week, Boakai received endorsement from another one of the political parties in the October 10 first round, Liberia People’s Party (LPP) of Cllr. Tiawan Gongloe.
Meanwhile, local media reports say some concerned supporters of ALCOP have opposed the party’s recent decision to endorse Boakai for the pending runoff.
A local newspaper, The New Dawn reports that, “Concerned supporters and partisans” led by its former Vice Presidential Candidate Matthew Darblo, throwing its weight behind the re-election bid of President George Manneh Weah.”
According to Mr. Darblo, the platform and vision for Liberia more closely align with the CDC than any other political party.