MONROVIA – The National Youth League of the opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) has issued a sharp rebuke to Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung, accusing him of orchestrating a vote-buying scheme in support of the Unity Party’s senatorial candidate, Rep. Samuel G. Kogar, ahead of the April 22 Nimba County by-election.
At a press conference held Thursday, April 17, 2025, at the party’s national headquarters in Congo Town, Acting Youth League Chair Alvin C. Wesseh alleged that the ruling Unity Party is engaging in clandestine activities designed to manipulate the election’s outcome.
Wesseh claimed the Unity Party has funneled more than four billion Liberian dollars (L$4,000,000,000) into Nimba to influence voters, intimidate local officials, and undermine the democratic process. He further alleged that Vice President Koung had been spotted in Ganta meeting with election magistrates at his private farm, suggesting efforts to rig the results in favor of Kogar.
“Your plan will collapse. Your money will burn. Your fraud will be exposed,” Wesseh declared.
In response to the alleged plot, Wesseh announced that the CDC Youth League has mobilized what he described as a “massive resistance force” across Nimba County. He said this team includes legal observers, grassroots mobilizers, and what he termed “vote defenders.”
“No village is too remote, and no ballot box will go unguarded,” Wesseh said.
The Youth League also condemned what it called Vice President Koung’s attempts to stoke tribal divisions in the county. Wesseh referenced Liberia’s civil conflict and cautioned against the dangers of tribal politics.
“The most dangerous war Liberia ever experienced was the tribal war,” Wesseh stated. “It turned children into rebels, displaced our people, and destroyed a generation. We now call these victims ‘disadvantaged youth.’”
He urged residents of Nimba to reject messages of division, asserting that the CDC’s platform is rooted in unity and national development.
“We believe the Mandingo, Gio, and Mano are one people,” he said. “Let no one deceive you with tribal slogans. We must rise above that.”
Wesseh further described Vice President Koung as a “lazy politician” who, he claimed, lacks the vision to address the real challenges facing Nimba. He warned that tribalism, if left unchecked, could erode Liberia’s hard-earned peace.
“Liberia is on the edge of a democratic backslide,” he said. “And if we don’t stop this unenlightened tribal bigotry, our fragile peace could be jeopardized.”
He called on Koung to remember his constitutional responsibilities as Vice President, saying, “You were elected to serve the entire nation, not a political faction.”
Wesseh urged voters in Nimba to resist inducements and intimidation, describing the by-election as more than just a political contest.
“This is not just an election—it’s a revolutionary stand for dignity, justice, and truth,” he said.
Koung “Irrelevant” in 2029 Political Outlook
Wesseh also dismissed speculation that Koung might emerge as a major contender in the 2029 presidential race, calling him “irrelevant” to the political future of CDC and former President George Weah.
“President Weah remains our standard bearer and a formidable contender for future elections,” he said.
He criticized the Unity Party’s governance track record in Nimba and claimed that tribal politics alone cannot deliver Kogar a win. He also accused Kogar of fueling the ongoing power struggle within the House of Representatives.
“Kogar played a central role in the controversial attempt to unseat Speaker J. Fonati Koffa and replace him with Rep. Richard Koon,” Wesseh said. “That’s a reckless move that risks legislative chaos.”
He warned that Kogar’s actions could spark national instability.
“If we’re not careful, desperate actors like Kogar—whom I describe as a charlatan—will plunge this country into another crisis,” Wesseh cautioned. “The Revolutionary National Youth League of the mighty CDC is stepping in to defend Nimba from political collapse.”
Youth League Suspends Two Executives for “Ideological Betrayal”
Meanwhile, the CDC Youth League has suspended its Secretary General, Martin Fahn, and Deputy Secretary for Administration, Armstrong Marziah, for what it called “ideological betrayal.”
According to Wesseh, the two officials had openly endorsed Kogar and aligned themselves with what he termed “a murderous regime.”
“Kogar is nothing more than a puppet of a corrupt administration that has brought disease, poverty, and suffering to our people,” Wesseh said. “Their actions represent not just betrayal, but a direct assault on the soul of our revolutionary movement.”
Wesseh said the Youth League remains resolute in defending the values of the CDC and ensuring a peaceful, transparent election in Nimba.
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