An opinion by Jeremiah Samuel Dugbo I
Considering the prevailing political landscape and relevant statistics, I’ve formed the view that President Weah would have secured a first-round victory if Ambassador Boakai had chosen Mr. Cummings as his running mate.
My perspective is rooted in the belief that, apart from financial considerations, Mr. Cummings might have posed a political challenge to Boakai’s presidential aspirations. It’s important to note that, in the context of African politics, where regional, ethnic, and religious factors often influence voters, Mr. Cummings lacked a substantial support base. His underwhelming performance in the southeast, his home region and expected stronghold, consistently demonstrated this.
It appears highly likely that the Unity Party (UP) will carry Nimba this year, in contrast to the 2017 election. This significant shift in favor of UP in Nimba can be attributed to Ambassador Boakai’s decision to nominate Senator Jeremiah Koung, which garnered the support of Senator Johnson, a respected figure often referred to as the ‘political godfather of Nimba,’ as well as numerous grassroots stakeholders in the county.
Given these circumstances, one can logically infer that if Ambassador Boakai had chosen Mr. Cummings as his running mate, and if Senators Johnson and Koung had endorsed President Weah’s presidential campaign, the ruling party CDC could have secured a first-round victory.
