Published: June 5, 2026
MONROVIA — The bitter leadership struggle threatening to split the Liberian People’s Party intensified Tuesday at the National Elections Commission, as rival faction leader Tamba Samukai took the witness stand to defend disciplinary actions taken against embattled party Chairman J. Yanqui Zaza.
After hours of testimony and cross-examination by lawyers representing Zaza, the hearing officer adjourned proceedings and scheduled the matter to continue Wednesday, as the commission considers competing claims over the party’s leadership and constitutional authority.
The case is widely viewed as a defining moment for the opposition party, whose internal divisions have raised questions about its future relevance ahead of Liberia’s 2029 general elections.
Samukai Defends Suspension
Samukai maintained that actions taken by his faction against Zaza were lawful and rooted in the party’s constitution, arguing the dispute centers on accountability and respect for governing rules.
“The constitution of our party must prevail, because we cannot question the national government about respecting the rule of law while failing to respect our own constitution,” he told the commission.
He reiterated his faction’s position that Zaza remains subject to what they describe as an indefinite suspension imposed through established party processes, and said the NEC proceedings had given members a better understanding of the LPP constitution.
“In every political organization, disagreements happen; what matters is how those issues are resolved so the party can emerge stronger,” Samukai said.
Lawyer Expresses Confidence
Counsel for the Samukai faction, Cllr. Eric Kamara, told reporters after the hearing that he was satisfied with his client’s testimony and that original documents central to the dispute — held in NEC custody — would play a decisive role in the commission’s determination.
Asked whether his side would accept the eventual ruling, Kamara was measured.
“I cannot just say I will accept any outcome if I have not seen the ruling, but if the ruling goes in-depth and covers everything presented, then I will accept it,” he said.
Samukai, speaking after stepping down from the witness stand, expressed similar confidence in the documentary record.
“We have all the documents presented to the NEC. They are legitimate documents and they will speak for themselves,” he said.
Constitutional Violations Alleged
A significant portion of Samukai’s testimony focused on allegations that elected county officials were improperly removed from their positions. He accused Zaza and his allies of violating the party constitution by removing county chairpersons without approval from the National Congress.
“There is no provision in our constitution that allows one individual to arbitrarily remove elected county leaders,” Samukai argued, pledging to pursue legal remedies on behalf of officials he said were unlawfully ousted.
He also alleged that several senior party members resigned over concerns about constitutional violations and misconduct within the organization.
Dispute Traces to 2024 Paynesville Meeting
At the heart of the case is a dispute over decisions adopted during a National Committee meeting held in Paynesville on Nov. 15, 2024. In a communication submitted to the Inter-Party Consultative Committee, Samukai’s faction argued the meeting was constitutionally convened with quorum met by members of the National Executive Committee and county congress chairpersons under the party’s 1984 constitution.
Based on that meeting, the group sought NEC recognition of disciplinary measures against Zaza and other officials accused of undermining party unity and violating constitutional procedures — including what the faction characterized as “constitutional usurpation of authority” and institutional destabilization. Samukai’s supporters say Zaza was properly notified of the meeting but did not attend, and that organizers proceeded in his absence.
The leadership dispute has also spilled into broader party activities. The Samukai faction has challenged the legitimacy of a political retreat organized by human rights lawyer and former presidential candidate Cllr. Tiawan Gongloe in Gbarnga, Bong County, arguing it was unauthorized under party rules. The faction points to Samukai’s election during the party’s Fifth National Congress in May 2022 as a basis for its claim to legitimacy.
Future of LPP at Stake
With both factions claiming legitimacy and neither showing signs of backing down, political observers say the NEC’s ruling could determine not only who controls the party but whether the LPP can recover from divisions threatening its organizational coherence ahead of 2029.
Zaza and his legal team declined to comment following Tuesday’s proceedings despite repeated attempts by reporters to obtain their response to allegations raised during the hearing.
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