After Pre-Mature Social Media Posts That Victory Is “Certainly Certain”
PHOTO: (Above) Defeated Rep Acarous Gray and his pre-matured victory Facebook victory post and (Below) Winner Prince Toles and his supporters’ victory celebration
By Frank Sainworla, Jr., fsainworla@yahooo.com
The ruling CDC party has lost two key seats in central Monrovia to the opposition—Montserrado County Districts #s 8 and 7, with two of its radical executive members being defeated in the October 10 elections, results from the National Elections Commission (NEC show.
In the densely populated District #7, which includes the largest West Point slump community, Rep. Solomon George who was making his third term bid, has been booted out by INDEPENDENT Candidate Emmanuel Dahn.
In another densely populated District #8, incumbent Rep. Acarous Gray has lost third term bid.
The young Liberian Lawmaker is one of the tough-talking members of the House of Representatives who chairs the House Committee on the Executive, who is seen as one of the most radical among top CDC stalwarts.
A one-time student political activist at the state owned University of Liberia (UL), Rep. Gray has over the years led a number of protests actions dating back to over a decade in the opposition movement, with one of the most recent being last March when he went on the UL Capitol Hill campus with a band of militants.
Following his arrival, the already tension-packed UL campus turned into a theater of violence, with stone throwing and rioting, amid resistance from rival students’ political factions. His trip to the University campus came after Montserrado County District #8 Representative, Moses Acarous Gray carried out his vow to go on the campus and have lunch on Monday, March 13, 2023 in the aftermath of a violent attack on an official in the office of the Finance Minister, Alloysius Howe last week. Coming along with him was scores of his supporters, something that annoyed students from the Students Unification Party (SUP). Another UL Campus Violence: Liberian Police Say 6 Arrested – News Public Trust
Rep. Gray, who has since last Tuesday been posting Facebook messages declaring himself winner, to the contrary lost his bid to return to the Capitol Building for the third term, with NEC on Wednesday, October 18, 2023 declaring his main rival, Prince Toles of the opposition Unity Party (UP) winner of the October 10 polls.
Following the close of polls last Tuesday, the CDC lawmaker and other candidates began a wave of claims of victory, even before NEC began releasing the first batch of official results. At one stage, the now declared winner, Toles also joined the fray claiming victory.
Foreign diplomats and other stakeholders including the United States Embassy criticized some political parties and candidates who were beginning to pre-maturely declare themselves winners in the just ended presidential and legislative elections.
In one of his statements to the media, Gray said outright victory was “certainly certain” for both he and CDC’s presidential candidate, President George Manneh Weah.
One of Rep. Gray’s posts on his Facebook page
However, on Thursday evening after NEC Chairperson Davidetta Browne Lansanah declared the opposition UP candidate Prince Toles winner of the District #8 poll.
Immediately thereafter, the victor and many of his supporters paraded through the streets of Monrovia from 12th Street in Sinkor to the center of the Liberian capital in victory celebrations.
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The victory celebrations went into the evening hours