Published: September 5, 2026
BONG COUNTY, Liberia — Opposition Congress for Democratic Change Secretary-General Jefferson T. Koijee says the National Patriotic Party was never invited to former President George Weah’s opposition roundtable, dismissing the party’s rejection as “grandstanding and political posturing,” while NPP Chairman George Mulbah maintains that even if invited, his party would not attend because of its troubled political experience with the CDC.
The sharp exchange comes just hours before Weah’s planned opposition roundtable Saturday, Sept. 5, at his Jamaica Road office in Paynesville, exposing lingering tensions between the former coalition partners as opposition figures explore greater political cooperation.
Weah, political leader of the CDC, extended invitations to several opposition figures, including Alexander B. Cummings, Rep. Musa Hassan Bility, Sen. Samuel G. Kogar and some NPP members in their individual capacities. The meeting comes amid heightened political tensions surrounding the investigation and detention of former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor over her alleged connection to the country’s ongoing US$317 million drug case.
Koijee: NPP Was Never Invited
Koijee took to his official Facebook page early Saturday to challenge Mulbah’s announcement that the NPP would not participate in the roundtable.
“At no time and at no point did the Congress for Democratic Change extend an invitation to the National Patriotic Party or its national leadership to participate in the proposed opposition roundtable discussion,” Koijee said. “Therefore, any announcement rejecting an invitation that was never extended amounts to unnecessary grandstanding and political posturing.”
Koijee clarified that some NPP members were invited in their individual capacities, but neither the NPP as an institution nor Mulbah as its national chairman received an invitation.
“The National Chairman should therefore immediately cease and desist from creating the impression that the CDC sought the institutional participation of the NPP and was subsequently rejected,” Koijee warned.
The CDC secretary-general also raised questions about Mulbah’s reported employment within the Office of Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung, arguing that the relationship raises political questions about “the independence, timing and motivation” of statements directed against opposition solidarity.
Koijee Questions NPP’s Response to Taylor’s Detention
Koijee also criticized the NPP leadership over its response to the criminal case involving Howard-Taylor, the party’s standard-bearer and former vice president.
“Even more troubling was the response of the NPP leadership when its own distinguished Standard Bearer and former Vice President, Chief Dr. Jewel Cianeh Howard-Taylor, faced serious criminal allegations and incarceration,” he said.
“At that defining moment, the statement attributed to the party leadership was, in our view, one of the weakest responses in the history of a party once renowned for its fighting spirit, political potency and revolutionary character.”
According to Koijee, the CDC has no room for political distractions, manufactured controversies or attempts to fracture what he described as genuine opposition solidarity.
He said the party would remain vigilant and respond “firmly, lawfully and politically” to any attempt to undermine legitimate democratic cooperation among opposition forces.
Mulbah: We Wouldn’t Attend Even If Invited
Mulbah, however, maintained that the NPP would not participate in the CDC-sponsored roundtable even if the party had received an invitation.
Speaking to journalists Friday in Bong County, the NPP chairman cited what he described as the party’s negative experience with the CDC over the past six years.
Mulbah said the way the NPP was treated within the former Coalition for Democratic Change had left the party unconvinced that it should return to the table with the CDC to discuss political cooperation.
“I acknowledge that some NPP members may be seen associating with the CDC, but the party respects their individual rights to participate in political activities,” Mulbah said.
He stressed that the participation of individual NPP members in the meeting should not be interpreted as a formal endorsement by the party’s leadership.
Mulbah said the NPP remains prepared to support a broader opposition alliance, but only if the party is respected and allowed meaningful participation in decision-making. He insisted that the NPP would no longer operate merely as a follower within an opposition coalition.
Mulbah Reveals Koijee’s Earlier Request
Mulbah also disclosed that Koijee contacted him during Howard-Taylor’s arrest and requested that the CDC and NPP issue a joint statement, a proposal he said he rejected.
“I would also like to clarify that Mr. Jefferson Koijee recently called me when Madam Taylor was being arrested and asked that we issue a joint statement,” Mulbah claimed. “I rejected that request because, in my view, doing so would mean repeating what happened when we exited the coalition. So, even if we are right on an issue, we are not going there.”
Addressing the participation of NPP figures such as Cyril Allen and Sen. Edwin Snowe in opposition meetings, Mulbah said they are free to attend in their individual capacities but cannot represent the party without authorization.
“Regarding Cyril Allen, Senator Edwin Snowe, and other members of the party who are attending these meetings individually, our position is very clear. Whenever communication comes to us, we put it on our platform and consult our members to seek their views,” Mulbah emphasized.
He added that individual members have the right to participate but warned against speaking for the party without authorization.
“However, they cannot make comments on behalf of the party. If anyone does so, the NPP Constitution will apply,” Mulbah said.
The dispute leaves the two officials sharply divided: Koijee insists the NPP cannot reject an invitation it never received, while Mulbah says an invitation would make no difference because the party would still stay away.
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