The only female candidate taking part in the Nimba County senatorial by-election, Madam Edith Gongloe-Weh, has described the direct participation of Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung as “unprecedented and troubling.”
Madam Weh made the comment Tuesday, April 15, 2025, ahead of the casting of ballot which is slated for April 22, 2025 and the visit of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on Thursday, April 17, 2025, to join her in campaign against men.
The only female senatorial candidate didn’t hide her feeling about the Veep’s direct interference in the Nimba County senatorial by-election.
Unofficial pools have placed her second behind her main rival, Nimba County District #5 Representative Samuel G. Kogar, who is heavily backed and supported by the Unity Party-led Administration of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and his Vice President, Koung.
Madam Weh accused the state of misuse of state resources toward Kogar’s campaign. She even mentioned voters are being intimidated, and there are systematic violations of the code of conduct.
“The level of interference is not only unlawful, it’s dangerous. This is a senatorial election, yet, it is being treated like a presidential campaign by the Vice President,” she said among other things.
Notwithstanding all the mounting of challenges in her way, Madam Gongloe-Weh reaffirmed her commitment to peace and civility throughout the campaign. She emphasized that her team has conducted itself with integrity and avoided provocation, even in the face of increasing hostility.
Ellen’s Support
Before Madam spoke, she put an envelope into the fundraising basket of the Senatorial candidate.
Speaking at a fundraising in support of Gongloe-Weh’s campaign, Madam Sirleaf, who was Africa’s first democratically-elected female president, said: “This is former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. I am joining the women of Liberia to support women candidates in the legislature. Liberia can’t be left behind. Other countries are moving forward to give women their rightful place. Anyone who stops them, is stopping progress in the world! The former Liberian President further described Edith as a true representative of women and children, emphasizing the importance of electing her to the Senate.
If successful, Edith will become the fourth female senator in the current Liberian Senate.
The former President and the present President, Mr. Joseph Nyuma Boakai, are supporting different candidates in the by-election.
