PHOTO: PUP Chairman, Rep Samuel Kogar and head of the Women Congress, Catherine Tamata
By Augustine Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com
One of Liberia’s opposition parties that has been steadily increasing its Legislative seats in successive elections says it will not field a presidential candidate in the upcoming 2023 presidential and general elections.
The People’s Unification Party (PUP) has disclosed in Monrovia that it has resolved not to feed any candidate to contest for the presidency in the 2023 presidential and legislative elections in Liberia.
In the elections, which is less than 12 months away, all 73 seats in the House of Representatives will be contested, while 15 of the 30-member Senate seats will be out for grasp.
PUP National Chairman, Representative Samuel Kogar, disclosed that the decision not to put forward a candidate to contest for the presidency in the next year’s elections was taken during the national convention held in Gunpa, Nimba County early this year.
Representative Kogar made the disclosure at the program marking the first membership drive organized by the Women Congress of the People’s Unification Party in Monrovia during the weekend.
He said the PUP will ensure that lot of women are given the space to contest on the party’s ticket, but this is a party where consensus can take place for a common understanding for one person to contest whenever there are more contestants in a particular district
According to him, the PUP is one of the opposition political parties that is having about six influential lawmakers in the national legislature including the two in the Liberian Senate.
Rep. Kogar indicated that person who will be chosen must in good standing with the party, be a winnable candidate and someone who has good reputation as well as a morale in the district she is wishing to contest in.
In remarks, the Chairperson of the Women Congress of the People’s Unification Party, Catherine Tamata, disclosed that the membership drive was organized by the PUP Women Congress, because the party is now moving towards the digitization of their members.
Madam Tamata encouraged Liberians especially women to join hands with the PUP Women Congress and recommit themselves to the movement.
A cross session of members of the PUP Women’s Congress
According to her, the gathering is also intended to increase women’s desire to contest on the ticket of the PUP in legislative slots in the counties.
The program, which brought women from several parts in the country, was held under the theme: “Renewing Our Membership, Renewing Our Commitment.”