By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
FISH TOWN, RIVER GEE, Liberia- After failing to win four different elections in the southeastern River Gee county, former football star Jonathan Boy Charles Sogbie of the opposition CPP has seen light at the end of the tunnel.
Boy Charles, a one-time teammate of Liberia’s President and international football icon, George Weah on the national football squad, The Lone Star, has hit jackpot after his fifth try, winning the Senate seat on the opposition CPP’s ticket, defeating incumbent Senator Matthew Jay (Independent) and two others.
During his footballing years, he and Weah also played on the Invincible Eleven (IE) team.
Boy Charles during his footballing days with IE
He won with 33.69% of the votes, after 100 percent of the total 106 polling places have been tallied in the December 8 Special Senatorial election.
Speaking on a local community radio station, Mr. Sogbie over the weekend termed is victory as consistent perseverance.
He promised to reconcile and work with the leadership including of the citizens of River Gee.
The National Elections Commission (NEC) local office in the capital, Fish Town was completed in a short time.
There are 56 precincts and 106 polling places in River Gee County.
Of the 106 polling places in River Gee County, District #1 has 36 polling places, while District two has 35 polling places and District #3 has 35 polling places.
The other two candidates defeated by the former Liberian football star-turned politician are Charles Korkor Bardyl (CDC) and Francis S. Young, an Independent candidate.
Of the total votes accumulated from the just ended special senatorial Election, CDC candidate obtained 4,598 amount to 31.1% while, Incumbant senator Matthew N. Jaye obtained 2,848 amounting to 19.2% and also CPP candidate Jonathan Boycharles Sogbie obtained the total number of votes of 4,972 amounting to 33.6% and Francis S. Young current Representative of RiverGee county District #2 obtained 2,385 with 16.1%.
Total valid votes from the just ended special senatorial Election in River Gee c is 14,803 and total invalid votes is 901.
The counting process was observed byCivil society Organization, Liberia eletoral observation Network, the media and political parties’ representatives including the independent candidates’ representative.
Mr. Jonathan Sogbie has contested four time in both representative and senatorial elections but failed to win and this election was his fifth times contesting but this time he has been employed by the citizens of River Gee for nine years.
Moments after the pronouncement of the final results, supporters of Mr. Jonathan Boy Charles Sogbie took on the streets, jubilating with palm branches in their hands.
