By Augustine Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com
A pro-Islamic group, the Supreme Council for Imams and Mosques Affairs has rejected the outcome of the election conducted by the National Muslim Council of Liberia.
On March 31, 2023, an election conducted by the National Muslim Council of Liberia ended with the election of Fumba Sheriff, Chairman; Mohamed Konneh, Vice Chairman for Administration; and Abdurahman Sow, Vice Chairman for Operations.
Others are Amna Sheriff, Vice Person for Women Affairs; Kuku Reeves, Secretary General and Dr. Abbas Kanneh now become the Grand Motif of Liberia replacing Sheik Abubakar Sumaworo.
But, addressing a press conference in Monrovia during the weekend, the Assistant Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Imams and Mosques Affairs, Vabole Donzo, described the entire election as illegal and unconstitutional
According to him, Sheik Abubakar Sumaworo remains lawful and legal Grand Motif of Liberia because he maintains the qualifications and criteria to continue to serve in the position.
Mr. Donzo said they believed that the gross violation of the constitution have the propensity to cause confusion, chaos and division in the Islamic community in Liberia
The Islamic group claimed that it has evidence of the manipulations of the elections that subsequently led to the election of the Chairman, Vice Chairman for Administration, Vice Chairman for Operation and Secretary General, who were all elected on white ballot.
The group claimed that the manner in which the Islamic Jurist were selected was marked with fraud, favoritism and misapplication of the constitution of the National Muslim Council of Liberia.
He claimed that the recruitment of the members of Islamic jurists was without going their credentials as required by the NMCL constitution thus involving the recruitment of people without degree in Islamic studies.
According to him qualified applicants were excluded Islamic jurist committee without any justification and there was deviation of the selection of final vetting which should be done by the national executive committee in coordination with the board of directors.
However, the Supreme Council of Imams and Mosques Affairs said it recognized the constitutional right of the National Muslim Council of Liberia as an NGO certificated, accredited and incorporated institution by the Liberian government
The statement warned them to be conscious and mindful of the Muslim community and the Liberian State against engaging each other in an unnecessary conflict and confusion.