Conflicting signals are coming out of the camp of the ruling Unity Party (UP).
As Vice President Joseph Boakai of the ruling UP was officially opening the December 26 runoff campaign on Thursday, his party was going to the Supreme Court to put a stay order on the election citing a wave of alleged irregularities.
In an address to his supporters at the UP headquarters in the Monrovia suburb of Congo Town, Boakai urged them to go out and campaign in a peaceful manner for the polls in order to give him the presidency for the good of the country.
Like President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf did in her 2005 presidential bid, the UP current Standard Bearer promised that if he’s elected, he will be in office for only one term.
As VP Boakai was declaring the December 26 runoff presidential campaign opened, UP supporters and other collaborators intensified their protest in front of the headquarters of the National Elections Commission in Sinkor, demanding the resignation or removal of NEC’s Chairman Cllr. Jerome Korkoya.
One of the spokespersons of the anti Korkoya protestor, prominent Liberian musician Miatta Fahnbulleh and the protestors said the head of the electoral body and his fellow commissioners lacked the integrity to conduct the pending runoff presidential election.
“We will not have election on December 26,” Madam Fahnbulleh said accusing the NEC boss of “rigging the election”.
If Korkoya doesn’t resign on his own, the protestors said they will pressure President Sirleaf to dismiss him. “We will get on her neck,” Fahnbulleh told reporters on day two of the anti Korkoya protest on Thursday.
Reports say the UP has filed a Bill of Information with the Supreme Court pressing for a stay order on the pending runoff presidential election.
UP executive member Goerge Kailondo told a local radio (Shaita FM) on day one of the protest that they were mobilizing hundreds of supporters to besiege the residence of President Sirleaf, who is also the ruling UP’s Standard Bearer Emeritus.
Kailondo, who is also a lawyer and financier of the UP, vowed that the protestors won’t leave the President’s residence until she dismisses Korkoya and the Executive Director of the electoral body, Lami Lighe.
According to NEC’s timetable announced after the Supreme Court lifted the prohibition on the runoff, UP’s presidential candidate Boakai is due to face up with the George Weah of the main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) in runoff election on December 26, 2017.
Meanwhile, VP Boakai has urged his supporters and collaborators not to insult their Standard Bearer Emeritus, President Sirleaf or show any disrespect to her.
Referring to her as “my sister,” the UP presidential candidates warned that he would not entertain any disrespect to her, adding that all his life has been one of discipline and respect for others.
In the period leading to the October 10, 2017 elections, some top executives of the UP and supporters have accused the President of betraying her ruling party by giving her support to George Weah’s opposition CDC.