Othello Sarweh Nimely
The political leader of the Liberia People’s Party (LPP), Cllr. Taiwan Saye Gongloe has strongly rejected allegations of campaign finance corruption describing it as baseless claims made by expelled party members.
Recently, some members of the LPP accused Cllr. Gongloe of failing to provide campaign financial report and misusing funds donated to the party.
Responding to these accusations on Wednesday, at the Center for the Exchange of Intellectual Opinions in Monrovia, Cllr. Gongloe said he had previously ignored the claims but felt it necessary to address what he called “lies and fabrications” being spread by dismissed former youth leaders.
He explained that both the party’s Youth League and the National Executive Committee had already investigated the matter and taken action against those spreading the misinformation.
According to him, most of the campaign financing came from his own contributions, his wife, and friends. Gongloe emphasized that the Liberia People’s Party complied with the National Elections Commission (NEC) requirement to submit a full campaign finance report after the elections.
He criticized his accusers for hypocrisy, noting that some of them failed to properly account for funds even when given small amounts for errands.
Without naming him directly at first, Gongloe suggested that one of his main accusers was Abraham Kollie, a former associate he once treated like a son. He argued that Kollie’s allegations had no evidence and had failed to gain traction.
“If the LPP had knowledge of such wrongdoing, especially with its U.S. branch, action would have been taken. We ran a modest but successful campaign with the little we had,” he stated.
He added that those making the accusations were already expelled by the party’s Executive Committee after refusing to cooperate with investigations. Reflecting on his presidential campaign, Gongloe revealed that some supporters had urged him to seek backing from wealthy financiers in Nigeria and elsewhere, but he declined.
He also recounted trips to the United States, where fundraising events promised large donations often publicly pledged during live broadcasts but many of those pledges never materialized. Despite this, he said the campaign effectively reached communities across Liberia.
On maintaining his public presence at grassroots intellectual forums, Gongloe said his leadership style would remain unchanged even if elected president. Drawing from his experience working with former presidents Amos C. Sawyer and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, he stressed that true leadership requires direct engagement with the people.
“I am 69 years old. I have served as Minister of Labor and Solicitor General. Nothing will change me now. If you doubt me, make me president and put me to the test,” he remarked.
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