UP Backtracks On Campaign Team

New Democrat (Monrovia)

7 June 2011

Days after unveiling its list of individuals on its national campaign team, the ruling Unity Party has backtracked, saying the team is only an “advisory” team and not its campaign General Staff as initially declared.

The shift comes after intense opposition calls that many of the individuals on the team, cabinet ministers and other officials of the government, resign their positions on grounds of conflict of interest and misuse of public office.

An official statement from the Executive Mansion, signed by the President’s Director of Communication Ms. Shirley Brownell, said: “The Standard Bearer wished to clarify that the team assembled is not a campaign team, which already exists, and that the ministers named are part of the Advisory group.”

The release also noted that African Methodist Episcopal Church Bishop David Daniels, the President’s church, has been removed from the list. The release said that it is “inappropriate” for the Bishop to serve as a member of the campaign team.

But there was a divergence of views on the issue within the party, and just as the official position was being released, Senate Pro-Temp Cletus Wotorson was defending the formation of the campaign team, describing the calls of those citing conflict of Interests as “baseless.”

He said: “If the President, by extension, were to say she is chairing her own committee, will you (opposition) ask her to resign? These people (campaign team members) are protected by the constitution and they are partisans of a political party.”

He said while it is true that they form part of the president’s campaign team, it is their political right to campaign for the re-election of their boss.

“You do not want me to help my boss get re-elected?” the senator asked.

Despite the President’s clarification, the original release from the UP did not mention an ‘Advisory Group.’ The full text of the original press release mentioning campaign and campaign team, which the Unity Party is now backtracking from, is presented below:

“The Standard Bearer of the Unity Party, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, has constituted a broad-based National Campaign Committee (NCC) chaired by Senate Pro Tempore Cletus Segbe Wotorson to supervise, coordinate and guide her 2011 re-election bid. The President has also appointed a Campaign Management Team (CMT) with Mr. Tornorlah Varpilah as National Campaign Manager and Eugene lenn Nagbe as Deputy National Campaign Manager, to be assisted by a professional staff, consultants, advisors and volunteers. The National Campaign Manager will also appoint Campaign Teams in the various Counties with the approval of the Standard Bearer in consultation with the Vice Standard Bearer and the National Party Chairman.

“The Standard Bearer has mandated the members of the NCC and CMT to work in close coordination with the leadership and membership of the Unity Party at all levels, as well as with all Liberians supporting her candidacy, to deliver a resounding victory in the forthcoming elections. She has admonished all those appointed to carry out their duties with the highest degree of professionalism and to exemplify high moral and ethical standards in the execution of their responsibilities.

“Meanwhile, the Standard Bearer has also mandated the National Campaign Chairman to institute operational guidelines to ensure that all NCC and CMT members discharge their duties in line with the Elections laws and avoid any conflict of interest.

Members of the National campaign Committee include:

Hon. Cletus Segbe Wotorson Chairman

Mrs. Varbah Gayflor Vice Chairperson

Mr. John Bestman Member

Hon. Frederick Cherue Member

Hon. Sumo Kupee Member

Mr. James N. Davies Member

Mrs. Clavenda Bright Parker Member

Mr. Harrison Karnwea Member

Mr. Jeremiah Sulunteh Member

Mr. Amara Konneh Member

Mr. Augustine Ngafuan Member

Mrs. Etmonia Tarpeh Member

Mr. Kofi Woods Member

Hon. John Bailout Member

Paramount Chief James M. Kyne Member

Mrs. Annie Nushane Member

Paramount Chief Momo Taylor Member

Paramount Chief Kahn Gibson Member

Mr. David Farhart Member

Hon. Gbezonghar Findley Member

Mr. Francis Carbah Member

Mrs. Emma Shannon Walser Member

Bishop David Daniels Member

Mrs. Sheeba Browne Member

Mr. Amos Tweh Member

Mr. Abdoulaye W. Dukule’ Member

Mr.SamWlue Member

Mrs. Julie Endee Member

Mrs. Grace Kpahn Member

Madame Ceita Fofana Member

Mr. Manyu Kamara Member

Mr. Jacob Kabakole Member

Mr. Varmuyah Sherrif Member

Mr. Morris Dukuly Member

Dr. Marcus Dahn Member

Mr. Aaron Wesseh Member

Mr. Jackson Wonde Member

Mr. Philip Dwuye Member

EX-OFFICIO

H.E. Joseph N. Boakai, Vice Standard Bearer

Cllr. Varney Sherman, National Chairman, Unity Party

Dr. Charles Clarke, Former National Chairman, Unity Party

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