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By Stephen G. Fellajuah
Monrovia, Liberia, April 14, 2026: The opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) has raised strong objections to the appointment of Mr. Jonathan K. Weedor as Chairman of the National Elections Commission (NEC), warning that the decision could signal a return to Liberia’s previously contested electoral environment.
Speaking at a press conference on April 13, 2026, at the party’s temporary headquarters in Sinkor, CDC Chairman Janga Augustus Kowo said the appointment by President Joseph Boakai lacks the neutrality required for the head of the country’s electoral body.
He cautioned that the move could heighten political tension, undermine public confidence in elections, and pose risks to national stability, with potential regional implications.
The CDC rejection comes amid endorsements of Mr. Weedor’s appointment from several other opposition political parties.
However, Kowo explained that the CDC’s concerns are rooted in historical experience and recent developments rather than speculation. He pointed to past incidents of electoral violence and deeply entrenched patterns of mistrust surrounding the electoral process.
According to Kowo, during the 2023 elections, Mr. Weedor did not demonstrate the impartial conduct expected of a national electoral figure.
He alleged that Mr. Weedor publicly associated with former NEC Chairman James Fromayan and others linked to earlier NEC administrations under the Unity Party’s 12-year rule. Kowo claimed that this group positioned itself in opposition to the NEC Board of Commissioners overseeing the 2023 electoral process.
He further argued that their actions, including what he described as a premature declaration of a Unity Party victory in the first round of the elections and public criticism of the CDC, contributed to heightened distrust at a critical moment when neutrality was essential.
Kowo also noted that former NEC Chairman Fromayan now serves as Commissioner-General of Liberia’s Arms Commission.
The CDC said these developments point to broader systemic challenges, including transparency gaps, unresolved legitimacy disputes, and declining public trust in electoral institutions. It warned that these unresolved issues have now resurfaced as a major national concern following Mr. Weedor’s appointment to head the NEC.
Emphasizing the CDC’s democratic record, Kowo stated that the party’s commitment to democracy is proven in practice. He recalled that, for twelve consecutive years under Unity Party governance, the CDC functioned as a peaceful, law-abiding opposition, consistently respecting the rule of law while advocating democratic reform.
He further noted that the CDC came to power through democratic elections in 2017 and, following a closely contested second-round election in 2023, peacefully transferred power. According to Kowo, this history demonstrates the party’s preference for peace and stability over conflict, a commitment he said is now being tested.
Kowo also recalled that during the CDC-led administration, efforts to reconstitute the NEC Board of Commissioners focused on appointing politically neutral and professionally competent Liberians.
He urged the current Unity Party–led government under President Boakai to uphold the same standard, stressing that the credibility of electoral institutions is central to Liberia’s democratic progress.
From the CDC’s perspective, Kowo warned that emerging governance challenges under the Boakai–Koung administration pose serious risks to national cohesion.
He said alleged violations and excesses are becoming too numerous to ignore and called for urgent corrective measures to safeguard electoral integrity and political stability.
