-ANC Political Leader Says 2029 Will Be His Final Presidential Bid, Calls for Principled Coalition Politics, And Insists Liberia Needs Competence Over Political Ambition to Rescue the Nation From Years of Poor Governance
MONROVIA, Liberia – Alternative National Congress (ANC) Political Leader Alexander Benedict Cummings has declared that the 2029 presidential election will be his final attempt to lead Liberia, saying he has no intention of repeatedly contesting elections if Liberians ultimately decide not to entrust him with the country’s highest office.
Speaking during an appearance on The Closing Argument (TCA) online political talk show, on Tuesday, August 4th evening, Cummings said his decision reflects both personal conviction and political realism, stressing that while he remains committed to offering Liberians what he believes is a credible alternative, he would not spend the rest of his life pursuing the presidency.
“If 2029 doesn’t work, I’m done,” Cummings declared during the interview. “I have a life outside politics. Politics is not my profession. Politics is my service.”
The former Coca-Cola executive, who unsuccessfully contested the presidency in both 2017 and 2023, said Liberia’s future cannot continue to be shaped by politicians whose only ambition is to remain in the political arena indefinitely.
‘Politics Is About Service, Not Survival’
Cummings said he entered Liberian politics not because he needed a career but because he believed he had the experience, integrity and leadership required to help transform the country.
Unlike many career politicians, he said, his professional accomplishments had already been established before he sought public office.
“I’ve had a successful career. I’ve built businesses. I’ve managed thousands of people across many countries. Politics is about service to me—not survival,” he said.
According to Cummings, leadership should never become an endless personal pursuit detached from national interest.
“If Liberians decide that I’m not the person after 2029, then I will respect that decision and move on,” he added.
Determined to Contest in 2029
Despite describing 2029 as his final presidential race, Cummings left little doubt that he fully intends to be on the ballot.
He said the ANC has already begun internal preparations aimed at strengthening the party’s structures and improving on lessons learned from previous elections.
The opposition leader acknowledged that the political environment heading into 2029 will be significantly different from previous contests, particularly as growing public frustration over governance, economic hardship, unemployment and corruption continues to dominate national discourse.
Cummings expressed confidence that Liberians will increasingly judge political leaders based on competence and performance rather than rhetoric or personality.
Coalitions Must Be Built Around Liberia, Not Positions
One of the most closely watched aspects of Cummings’ interview centered on the future of opposition coalition politics.
Having previously participated in the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) alliance before its collapse ahead of the 2023 elections, Cummings said he remains open to future political collaborations.
However, he insisted that any coalition must first be grounded in shared national objectives rather than negotiations over political positions.
“We must first agree on what we want to do for Liberia before we start talking about who becomes president, vice president or who gets what position,” he argued.
According to him, too many political alliances in Liberia have failed because they were constructed around individual ambitions instead of coherent governance agendas.
He maintained that successful coalitions should be driven by common values, policy priorities and mutual trust rather than short-term electoral calculations.
Lessons From Two Presidential Campaigns
Reflecting on his previous presidential campaigns, Cummings acknowledged that every election has provided valuable lessons.
He said politics requires patience, resilience and constant adaptation, noting that each campaign has deepened his understanding of Liberia’s political landscape and the expectations of ordinary citizens.
Rather than expressing regret over previous defeats, Cummings said the experiences have strengthened his resolve and prepared him to mount what he believes will be a more effective campaign in 2029.
He also suggested that Liberia’s political environment continues to evolve, creating opportunities for candidates who emphasize integrity, competence and practical solutions to national problems.
A Business Executive Turned Politician
Before entering politics, Cummings built an international corporate career spanning more than three decades with The Coca-Cola Company, eventually rising to become Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer.
Following his return to Liberia, he joined the Alternative National Congress and has consistently campaigned on promises of fighting corruption, strengthening public institutions, improving education, expanding economic opportunities and promoting merit-based governance.
Although he has yet to win the presidency, Cummings has remained one of Liberia’s most prominent opposition figures and continues to advocate for institutional reforms and greater government accountability.
Political Landscape Already Taking Shape
Cummings’ declaration comes at a time when Liberia’s political landscape is already beginning to take shape ahead of the 2029 presidential and legislative elections, despite the country being only midway through President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s six-year constitutional term.
Former President George Manneh Weah has already publicly indicated that he intends to seek another term in 2029, while several other political figures are widely expected to enter the race as parties begin rebuilding and repositioning following the closely contested 2023 elections.
Against that backdrop, Cummings’ announcement effectively removes speculation about his own political future while simultaneously placing a clear limit on his presidential ambitions.
Rather than portraying politics as a lifelong personal quest, he said his objective remains contributing to Liberia’s development, whether through elected office or other forms of national service.
“I want to serve my country,” Cummings said. “But if the Liberian people decide after 2029 that they want somebody else, then I will respect that decision and continue serving Liberia in other ways.”
His remarks are likely to fuel renewed debate over the shape of Liberia’s opposition politics, the prospects for another opposition coalition, and the emerging field of contenders seeking to challenge the ruling Unity Party in what promises to be another fiercely contested presidential election.
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