GBANQUOI, Nimba – Ahead of the December 26 runoff election, the commissioner of Wee-Gbeh Administrative District in Nimba, Jefferson Gougor, has left Liberty Party and rejoined the ruling Unity Party.

Gougor served as the Nimba campaign chair for Liberty Party during the October 10 presidential and representative elections. He said his decision at the time to join Liberty Party was based on “personal reasons.”

“Since the second round has left between my original, my mother party – the party that has made me a commissioner for 12 years going to the 13^th year – the part that has even made me to have attempted to become a representative of this district – the party that have made me known all over Liberia and perhaps across the Atlantic [Ocean];

“I will be doing a disservice if I don’t come to endorse the Unity Party [as] was done by my colleagues few months ago,” he said. Guogor has benefited from appointment as commissioner for 12 years under Unity Party. He even launched a failed bid with the party to be a representative of the district.

He pledged his support for Vice President Joseph Boakai’s presidential bid.

Gougor added that he rejoined the Unity Party with other supporters who are ‘industrious’ and capable of making things happen for the good and success of the party.

“The time is crucial,” he added. “I want you to project what you can project to the people for us to win as a party – do not dig behind another man… or attack personality. Say what you think you can go on the air to say for Joseph Boakai, for the betterment of our people.”

Gougor was received by the head of the Commissioner Council of Nimba, Daniel Zekpeh, during a brief ceremony. Zekpeh said the council had long wanted to see Gougor return to Unity Party. He added that the commissioners would work to campaign for the success of Unity Party.

“I said it, now that Gougor has come back to join me, I am very, very happy,” Zekpeh said. “Once I have got him, and he is somebody that people can listen to, we will make sure to canvass in this district and make sure that we become victorious comes 26 December 2017.”

Gougor and Zekpeh’s activities in campaigning on behalf of political parties are likely in violation of the Code of Conduct, which forbids all officials appointed by the president from engaging in political activities.

Featured photo by Arrington Ballah