Twenty (20) Candidates, including two females and 18 males, approved by the National Election Commission of Liberia, will contest the Presidential slot for the October 10, 2023, general elections.
Over 2 million registered voters are expected to cast their ballot across 2,080 voting precincts and 5,890 polling places.
There are 18 candidates representing their political parties and two (2) independent candidates.
Four (4) candidates, including the incumbent President George Weah, who is seeking re-election for a second term, have been identified as front-runners.
The Three(3) candidates expected to give a close contest to the incumbent President, George Weah, are former Vice President – Joseph Boakai, Businessman – Alexander Cummings, and Human Rights Lawyer – Tiawon Gongloe.
Incumbent President – George Weah
President, George Weah, 57, started his political career in 2005 after a successful football career, with the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC). His quest did not materialize the first time, though he had widespread support.
In 2011, President George Weah tried for the presidency again and still lost as the running mate of Winston Tubman. In 2014, however, he contested for and won the senatorial seat in Montserrado County.
In 2017, he contested and won the presidency after his party merged with two other political parties, including Charles Taylor’s National Patriotic Party and the People’s Democratic Party of Liberia, to form the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC).
Former Vice President – Joseph Boakai
Joseph Boakai, the 78-year-old veteran politician, is the Presidential Candidate for the Unity Party (UP). He served under former President Master Sergent Doe as Minister of Agriculture from 1983 to 1985 and under Sirleaf as Vice President between 2011 and 2017.
In light of recent developments regarding Prince Johnson, the old veteran appeared to have found an ally in the former warlord. He is optimistic of giving a heated contest to the incumbent president. Joseph is being supported by the Senator of Nimba County, Senator Jeremiah Kpan Koung.
Businessman – Alexander Cummings
Alexander Cummings, a 66-year-old nominated as the Flagbearer of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP), has proven to be a formidable politician. While his first-ever presidential bid was in 2017, after a successful corporate career, he came in fourth during the 2017 election.
Alexander Cummings will go into the polls with Charlyne Mnamah-Mar Brumskine, the daughter of the former flag bearer of Liberty, Charles Walker Brumskine, his running mate.
Former Minister of Labour – Taiwan Saye Gongole
Tiawon Saye Gongloe was an Ex-President of the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA) and former Minister of Labour. The 67-year-old human rights lawyer is contesting for the presidency on behalf of the Liberian People’s Party (LPP).
Gangloe has proposed to build a new Liberia through “a new system of governance that is decentralized, gender-sensitive, participatory, inclusive, and accountable.“
Dr Emmanuel K. Urey-Yarkpawolo, who initially announced his intentions to contest as a representative of Bong’s District Four, was sighted as one of the favourites to win the 2023 elections as a representative of Bong’s District Four and, therefore, was invited to be the running mate to Tiawon Saye Gongole.
The Independent Presidential Candidates
The two independent Presidential Candidates are Bendu Alehma Kromah and Robert Franz Morris.
Kromah returned from California and announced her decision in February 2023, with the vision to create 300 new jobs in Liberia and ensure equitable distribution of national resources when elected, among other initiatives.
Morris is the Chief Executive Officer of Phoenix Services, a construction-contracting, home-building, and real estate development firm in Disco Hill, Liberia.
By: Julius Kofi Satsi
