Published: March 23, 2026
MONROVIA — The Supreme Court of Liberia is set to rule Monday in a high-stakes case that could reshape the Liberia Football Association’s presidential election and determine whether incumbent Mustapha I. Raji faces a challenger or runs unopposed.
At issue is the eligibility of Cassell A. Kuoh, whose bid—backed by the Collaborating Football Stakeholders—has been challenged under an LFA statute barring ex-convicts from seeking office.
The court is expected to deliver its opinion at 11 a.m., a decision that could directly influence the April 18 election scheduled for Maryland County.
Kuoh’s opponents argue that the statute disqualifies him, while his legal team, led by Cllr. Arthur Johnson, a former LFA elections commissioner, contends the provision has been misapplied and that the association’s elections committee exceeded its authority.
“If the court rules against the statute, Kuoh will be cleared to challenge Raji,” a legal observer outside the courthouse said. “If the statute is upheld, Raji will stand alone on the ballot.”
A parallel legal battle is unfolding at the Civil Law Court, where a separate hearing is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Monday to determine whether to impose a permanent injunction on the election or dismiss the petition filed by Kuoh and his supporters.
Kuoh’s counsel in the lower court, Joseph Howe, argued Friday that the LFA’s published guidelines “contravene the statute” and that the elections committee assumed powers beyond its mandate.
“The guidelines say everything is in keeping with the statute,” Howe said. “But when it comes to eligibility, the committee interpreted the law in a way it never anticipated.”
The dispute has ignited widespread public interest in Liberia, where football remains a powerful cultural force. Supporters of both camps gathered outside the Supreme Court on Monday, chanting and holding placards.
Legal analysts say the ruling could establish an important precedent on how statutes governing sports bodies are interpreted and the extent to which courts can intervene in disputes with broader legal and political implications.
Two rulings expected Monday—one from the Supreme Court and another from the Civil Law Court—could determine whether the April 18 election proceeds as planned, is halted, or transforms into a contested race.
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