Koung’s appeal for Nimbaians to rally behind Kogar has been met with both support and strong opposition, with many weighing in on the political implications of his decision.
GANTA – Vice President Jeremiah Koung’s recent endorsement of Rep. Samuel Kogar, the candidate of the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR), in the upcoming Nimba County senatorial by-election has sparked mixed reactions across the county.
By Franklin Doloquee, [email protected]
Koung’s appeal for Nimbaians to rally behind Kogar has been met with both support and strong opposition, with many weighing in on the political implications of his decision.
Speaking on a local radio station last week, Koung framed the election as an opportunity for Nimba to achieve ethnic balance in its Senate representation. He specifically appealed to the Mano citizens to “join this coup,” highlighting the previous support from Gio Ethnic Group for Mano candidates.
He also called on Mandingo and other ethnic groups to unite in support of Kogar, who hails from the Gio tribe. Political analysts have noted that Koung’s move signals his emergence as a new political power broker in Nimba following the death of Senator Prince Johnson, whose passing has prompted the by-election.
FrontPageAfrica has gathered a range of responses from Nimbaians, with opinions sharply divided along both political and ethnic lines ahead of the April 22 by-election.
Amos Tokpah, a local supporter, expressed his full endorsement of Vice President Koung’s decision. “I support Vice President Koung’s decision to endorse Representative Samuel Kogar as the next senator of the county. This is a commendable decision because it will help restore peace and unity among Nimbaians. We will collectively support him in this endorsement of Representative Kogar,” Tokpah said.
Andrew David, a businessman from Ganta, acknowledged that Vice President Koung has every political right to support anyone, especially since both he and Kogar come from the MDR Party. However, David stated that he will not follow Koung’s lead. “This time, we will not follow his decision. It is time for Nimbaians to vote broadly, not based on party affiliation, but by choosing the best candidate to replace the late Senator Prince Johnson,” David said.
Mitchell Vannie, another resident of Ganta, voiced his support for the endorsement, citing Kogar’s past work. “I am fully in support of Vice President Koung’s decision to endorse Representative Kogar as the best person to replace the late Senator Johnson. This decision is welcomed by me and my entire family, based on Kogar’s past records. Endorsing him was not a mistake. We will follow Vice President Koung’s lead and continue to support him without hesitation,” Vannie added.
However, Jeremiah Bedell, a businessman in Ganta, expressed frustration with the Vice President’s endorsement. “Nimbaians have the right to support and vote for anyone of their choice. We don’t want someone else to promote a candidate for the by-election,” Bedell stated.
Oducial Z. Martin sharply disagreed with Vice President Koung’s endorsement and pledged not to support Representative Kogar. He criticized Koung for what he perceived as an undue influence on the county’s political choices. “Vice President Koung, as the senior leader, should support everyone equally, not just assist them financially and step back. We will not allow this to happen in our County,” Martin said. He further questioned, “Should only GIO men be Senators?” and insisted that this would not happen. “Koung scored zero in this election. We will not follow his lead or allow it to happen,” Martin emphasized.
Jerry R. Quoi, a Ganta resident, stated that a true leader should show direction to his people, and acknowledged that Koung and other Unity Party officials had done so in the past. “We will follow their lead in supporting Representative Samuel Kogar as the next godfather to replace the late Senator Johnson,” Quoi said.
On the other hand, Othello Jackson, another Ganta resident, told FrontPage Africa that while he believed Koung’s decision could have been a strategic move, he could not support it. Jackson explained that by endorsing a GIO candidate, Koung appeared to signal that he did not support the Mano candidates. “This election should not be based on tribal lines, but rather on choosing the best candidate to replace the late Senator Prince Johnson,” Jackson stated. He added that they had vowed not to let Vice President Koung’s decision dominate the County. “We will stand firm in support of our decision and will not back their vision come 2025,” he concluded.
Caleb Paye, a longtime supporter of Vice President Koung, expressed his disappointment with the endorsement. “There are many sons and daughters of Nimba who wish to replace the late Senator Prince Johnson. For Vice President Koung to lead such a divided political movement is not a good idea,” Paye said. He made it clear that, while he respects Koung’s right to endorse anyone, he would not be following his lead. “We will not follow his lead but instead take a different direction,” Paye affirmed.
Reflecting on past elections, Paye lamented that Koung’s decision not to support the only female candidate was influenced by previous events. He emphasized that, as a leader, it is important to forgive past grievances and move forward. “Since 2011, I have supported Vice President Koung, but this time around, I will not follow his advice,” Paye stated. He further criticized Representative Samuel Kogar, completing his third term in the House, for not having made a significant impact in District Number 5. “We are standing to reject his leadership and his dream of becoming Senator for the County,” Paye concluded.
Amos Tokpah, another supporter, welcomed Vice President Koung’s endorsement and pledged to follow him, stating that a leader should be able to show direction to his people, and that’s what Vice President Koung has done.
Lordranzo K. Dean expressed his strong opposition to Koung and Senator Nya D. Twayen Jr.’s endorsement. “Vice President Koung and Senator Nya D. Twayen Jr. are not on the ballot, so they cannot allow such an endorsement to take place,” Dean told FrontPage Africa. “This time, we will not follow their lead. We are heads of our families and know what is best for us. On election day, we will elect the best person to replace the late Senator Prince Johnson, not for VP Koung and Senator Nya D. Twayen Jr. to force us to support anyone in this election.”
As the April 22 by-election approaches, the county remains deeply divided over Vice President Koung’s endorsement of Representative Samuel Kogar, highlighting the ongoing tensions over political, ethnic, and leadership dynamics within Nimba.
