Liberia Doesn’t Need ‘Let Us Defeat Them’ Alliance

MONROVIA, November 3, 2026: Lofa County Senator Joseph N. Jallah has cautioned opposition political parties against forming alliances solely to defeat the ruling Unity Party (UP) in the 2029 presidential and legislative elections, urging political leaders to prioritize national development over the pursuit of power.

Senator Jallah said Liberia needs political cooperation built on shared principles, national interests and a clear development agenda rather than alliances motivated primarily by the desire to remove an incumbent administration.

Responding to recent remarks by Unity Party Chairman Rev. Dr. Luther Tarpeh concerning the roles of political parties as “main verbs” and “helping verbs,” Jallah said ongoing discussions about opposition unity reflect renewed interest in political cooperation but also expose unresolved questions about leadership, identity and political independence.

According to him, while some opposition parties favor broader cooperation without sacrificing their individual identities, others are resisting arrangements that would reduce them to supporting roles.

“That is healthy political conversation, provided it becomes a conversation about ideas and national interest, rather than merely a negotiation over who gets what position,” Jallah stated.

“Because Liberia does not need another political arrangement whose only sentence is: ‘Let us defeat them.’ The Liberian people deserve a bigger sentence: ‘Let us build Liberia.’”

The Lofa County lawmaker argued that political alliances must move beyond electoral calculations and focus on providing credible alternatives capable of addressing Liberia’s development challenges.

Addressing Tarpeh’s political analogy, Jallah explained that the “main verb” represents a political organization seeking the authority to govern and assume responsibility for national leadership.

He noted that while the Unity Party currently controls the government and the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) remains a major opposition force, Liberia’s multiparty democracy extends beyond the two political organizations.

Jallah maintained that no political party, regardless of its size or influence, should consider smaller parties irrelevant to the country’s democratic process.

He argued that political maturity requires recognizing the importance of partnerships, even when one political organization occupies a dominant position.

“Being the main verb does not mean you own the sentence,” Jallah emphasized, warning against political arrogance and the marginalization of smaller parties.

He said political power carries responsibilities that extend beyond winning elections, including accountability, consultation and delivering results for citizens.

“Power is important, but power does not eliminate partnership. And when you become the main verb of government, you inherit something bigger than the privilege of speaking. You inherit responsibility. You inherit accountability. You inherit the obligation to listen. You inherit the burden of performance,” he stated.

Jallah further cautioned that political leaders cannot use their electoral strength to dismiss criticism or disregard the contributions of other political actors.

“When the people begin asking questions, you cannot answer: ‘I am the main verb, therefore nobody else matters.’ No. The people are not voting for grammar. They are voting for government,” he concluded.

His comments come amid renewed discussions about opposition cooperation ahead of the 2029 elections, with questions surrounding political leadership, party autonomy and the objectives of potential alliances emerging as key issues.