Published: August 8, 2024
MONROVIA — Despite the August 24, 2024, announced date for the holding of the Press Union of Liberia re-election, the Chair of the Union Interim Leadership, Peter Quaqua, has disclosed that the leadership is poised to seek proper clarification from the court regarding the nature of the elections.
In June 2024, the Judge of the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court in Gbarnga, Bong County, nullified the results of the 2022 Press Union of Liberia (PUL) elections. This followed a motion for Summary Judgment by Judge J. Boima Kontoe, ordering a rerun of the elections by October 18, 2024, citing violations of the PUL Constitution and Election Campaign Guidelines.
The court has since mandated an Interim Leadership of the Union, headed by PUL former President Peter Quaqua, to conduct the re-elections. The leadership set August 24, 2024, for the elections.
While updating the body with the provisional voter’s roll on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, at the union headquarters in Monrovia, Mr. Quaqua said at the moment, the leadership is awaiting the Judge who issued the court order to provide clarity as to whether the body should conduct a total fresh election or continue the nullified elections held in Gbarnga.
When asked about the leadership’s clear understanding of the mandate given, the PUL Ex-president emphasized that the leadership is not awaiting the judge to interpret the ruling or the mandate; rather, they are only going to seek proper clarification to avoid future brouhaha.
“We understood from our level of understanding; all of us have different levels of understanding on legal issues, including the legal practitioners. To suggest that we did not understand, I mean you’re probably right, but both of us do not have the same understanding and that’s why we’re awaiting the judge’s arrival to seek that clarity,” Mr. Quaqua stated.
According to him, the leadership is trying to be as careful as possible to avoid chaos from contending parties or members, justifying that there is absolutely nothing wrong with seeking clarity from the same person who gave a mandate.
“We are told the Judge left the country not very long after the ruling on a private trip. We are informed that he is expected back in the coming days. As soon as he touches down, we will be at his gates to seek clarification. Please stay calm,” he asserted.
Commenting on the current status of the leadership, Mr. Quaqua said the body received two sets of lists from the PUL Secretariat, which include a soft, or computer copy containing 1245 names and a paper copy containing 1426 names, and a bundle of registration forms.
“Because the IC did not receive the soft copy of the 1426 list, the Committee searched through the volume of signed and unsigned forms to identify the 181 additional names and added them to the database, before starting the actual cleaning exercise,” the Interim Leadership head noted.
He added that the leadership employed a methodology to scan the list and remove the names of members who passed during the conflict period: G. Naway Gumeh, Jacob Walker, Buxton A. Davis, Joseph N. Kerekula, Gus Jaeploe, Ziamah M. Zeligler, Kerkulah Solon, Jr., Cholo Brooks, and Trojan Kaizolu.
Accordingly, the IC identified duplicated names and deleted one and also tested the credibility of the information provided on the membership form, considering the date of birth, entry year of practice, and education declared by the applicant.
“For example, an applicant’s date of birth is 2000 and he/she declared 2013 as the start practicing year. This person wants us to believe that they started journalism at 13 years old. Our attention was also drawn to an applicant who declared, for example, that he/she graduated from high school in 2010, but started practicing in 2009,” he noted.
Mr. Quaqua further stated that the IC identified a batch of forms without official approval, but the names were on the list, indicating neither the membership committee nor the president affixed their signatures.
He said the committee picked up and took interest in poorly filled and incomplete forms and isolated unprocessed forms. “The membership forms were generated but did not make it on either of the lists.”
The former PUL boss asserted that the committee conducted a wide range of calls for verification and reclassified members based on the categories set in Article 4 of the Union Constitution.
At the same time, Mr. Quaqua informed the membership that the provisional list has missing data, including phone numbers, email, institution, position/function, and educational level. “If your name is on the list, please provide the information in order to have you fully documented.”
He said during this period, members of the committee will be posted at the headquarters every day for at least three hours beginning at 12 pm to receive those who have concerns, adding that after one week, the committee will go back into the committee room to prepare the final membership roll.
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