PHOTO: Rep. elect James Kolleh (with scarf around his neck) entering the town
By J. Peter S. Dennis, dennisrealone@gmail.com
GBARNGA, Liberia- Bong County District #2 Representative elect, James M. Kolleh continues to organize appreciation programs in electoral district#2 in this central County, although he has still not yet been certificated, amid protest by his opponent from the ruling CDC party, Mr. Melvin Salvage.
Kolleh, who ran on the opposition People’s Unification Party (PUP), was recently declared winner of the November 16, 2021 By-election.
During his most recent thanksgiving program recently within the Lelekpayea community in Gbarnga, District #2 Rep-elect Kolleh appreciated citizens of electoral district #2 for voting him as their leader to represent them in the House of Representatives.
He cautioned them to remain calm, as they await the National Elections Commission (NEC) to officially certificate him as representative of the district.
The former speaker of the Mano River Union Youth parliament from Bong County believes that the people of his constituent stand to benefit more developments despite the constant delay of his certification by Mr. Melvin Salvage.
According to him, appreciating citizens for voting him during the just ended by-election was something thoughtful despite the legal battle.
During the campaign process, the youthful Rep. elect is on record of telling his electorates that he will dash them his official assigned government vehicle if he wins the seat to be used as an ambulance since the district does not a single.
He says it’s his leadership quest to fully represent his people as well as impact their lives holistically through development.
For their parts, the citizens within the Lelekpayea renewed their support for James, adding that they will stand for him in any electoral process.
They feel Mr. Kolleh should be given the chance to represent them as they have not been represented for over a year now.
The district#2 residents further urged Mr. Melvin Salvage to thwart his legal action for peace sake, as 2023 is next door.
Since November of 2021, Mr. Melvin Salvage, one of the contestants, has held several electoral irregularity complaints against Hon. James M. Kolleh. Salvage alleged that the votes obtained by James from Yandiwouan, James’ home were tempered with- thus filing a case.
In the final ruling on Thursday, December 23, 2021 at the headquarters of the National Elections Commission in Monrovia, NEC Chairperson, Davidetta Brown Lasanah announced Mr. Kolleh as winner of the process following the failure of complainant Salvage to provide enough evidences to substantiate his claim.
However, the legal team of Melvin Salvage has taken an appeal to the Board of Commissioners of the National Elections Commission.
A high placed source informed this reporter that if the legal team is not satisfied from the ruling of the Board of Commissioners, the Supeme Court is the next alternative. Electoral dispute cases where dissatisfied parties end up in court are common in Liberia.
Hon. James M. Kolleh of the People’s Unification Party(PUP), according to the National Elections Commission obtained 4283 (33.28%) votes ahead of CDC’s Melvin Salvage 3,882 (30.17%) votes and Independent Candidate, Edward Emmanuel Gboe with 2497 (19.4%) votes across its 22 precincts and 70 polling places in the district.
Recently, several Bongese including women and youth groups called on Melvin Salvage to wave the case in order for James Kolleh to be certificated.
They also feel that if he keeps holding on the case, it might dwindle his political ambition.
It can be further recorded; a local group under the banner “Concerned Women of Electoral District#2” appeared on a local radio station in the county calling on him curtail the legal process.
“We have not come to judge or tell someone that you are right or not. We have come to tell Melvin Salvage to leave the case because over a year now, our district has not been represented. So, for peace sake, we are calling for bargaining as you know 2023 is almost here” the women said in a major radio talk show in Gbarnga.
“We feel that this decision will help to foster unity and proper representation” the women urged.
The By-election is being stemmed based on the election of former district#2 Rep. and Deputy Speaker, Prince Kermue Moye to the House of Senate on December 8, 2020.
Liberians go to the poll by October 2023 to elect 73 representatives, 15 senators with President and Vice President, respectively; wishing for change considering the sting economy system, coupled with the lack of job opportunities for qualified young people and other Liberians.