ElectionsFact CheckLiberia

False! All Liberian Party not fielding presidential ticket in October

Claim: A viral flier on social media (Facebook, WhatsApp and Messenger groups) has named Henry P Costa and River-Gee County Senator Jonathan Boycharles Sogbie as the Standard bearer and Vice Standard-bearer of the All Liberian Party (ALP) in the upcoming Liberian elections.

False! All Liberian Party not fielding presidential ticket in October

Verdict: False! The party’s Chairman clarifies that the All Liberian Party (ALP) has yet to officially name any presidential ticket in Liberia’s upcoming Oct. 10, 2023, elections.

Full Text

Liberia is expected to go to the polls and elect its new political leaders, including a president and vice president, 73 representatives and 15 senators, on October 10. 

As a result, political parties are now forming party tickets, consisting of a presidential and a vice presidential candidate for the upcoming electoral process. Liberian businessman-turned-politician Benoni W. Urey established the All Liberian Party in 2017.

The 2017 legislative and presidential elections were the ALP’s first national elections, and the party came sixth out of 20 political parties and obtained 24,246 votes amounting to 1.56%.  

With less than 100 days to the country’s upcoming legislative and presidential elections, social media, specifically Facebook, Messenger and WhatsApp, have been flooded with a flier bearing the photograph of talk-show host and political commentator Henry P. Costa. It also carries River-Gee County Senator Jonathan Boycharles Sogbie as the ALP’s standard bearer.

According to a social media blog, The Liberian Influence, both Costa and Senator Sogbie have been selected by the All Liberian Party (ALP) as its standard and vice-standard bearers in the upcoming Liberian elections.

False! All Liberian Party not fielding presidential ticket in October

The post has over 100 emojis and 40 comments.

Verification

Based on the importance of this claim and the huge public interest it has generated, DUBAWA decided to verify the claim on the viral flier.

DUBAWA contacted the All Liberian Party (ALP) chairman, Theodore Momo, via phone to find out if the claim is valid.

During the phone call conversation with DUBAWA, the ALP’s chairman said that the party did not conclude to field the two persons captured in the viral poster for the upcoming elections.

Chairman Momo said, “We do not run our party on social media. Therefore, I do not know where this is coming from and the intent of those behind it. There are processes and procedures laid down within our party on how we go about selecting presidential and vice presidential candidates within our party, and it includes nominations and convention among other processes.”

He furthered, “Currently, we are focused on selecting our senatorial and representative candidates for now, and I cannot tell you uprightly whether or not we are going to field a presidential candidate during these elections.”

DUBAWA also contacted Henry P. Costa, who is also a member of the party and is currently in the United States of America, about the flier. Still, he is yet to respond to our inquiry.

False! All Liberian Party not fielding presidential ticket in October

Finally, DUBAWA reached out to Senator Jonathan Sogbie. The man alleged to be the vice standard bearer on the flier, to inquire whether he knew about it.

Senator Sogbie said that though his face is on it, he has no idea about being selected as a vice standard bearer for the ALP.

Senator Sogbie noted, “Let me thank you for the inquiry, and I would like to clearly state that the photo is mine, but I did not consent to be a running mate to anyone. I’m a member of the ANC and support the candidacy of Mr Cummings. Please let this serve as reliance for your reportage.”

Here are screenshots from the WhatsApp conversation between DUBAWA and Senator Jonathan Boycharles Sogbie

False! All Liberian Party not fielding presidential ticket in October
False! All Liberian Party not fielding presidential ticket in October

Conclusion

The information in the viral flier is false based on research conducted by DUBAWA and all the evidence available from speaking to all sides involved. It does not officially represent the position of the ALP.

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