MONROVIA, LIBERIA – The Citizens Movement for Change (CMC) officially endorsed B. Mack Gblinwon as its candidate for the upcoming Nimba County Senatorial by-election on Saturday, March 8, 2025. This endorsement comes as the CMC seeks to present a strong candidate for a position they believe is crucial for advancing the future of Nimba and Liberia as a whole.
Gblinwon, according to the CMC, embodies the core values of development, patriotism, honesty, dedication, and accountability, principles that align with the movement’s vision for a prosperous Liberia. The CMC emphasized that Gblinwon’s commitment to economic empowerment, modernization, agricultural investment, and constitutional reforms makes him the ideal candidate to represent Nimba County in the Liberian Senate.
“We are proud to endorse Hon. B. Mack Gblinwon for the Nimba County Senatorial by-election. His unwavering dedication to the people of Nimba reflects the commitment we have for real change and progress in Liberia,” the CMC declared in its statement. The movement also called on all citizens who believe in good governance and national unity to support Gblinwon as he runs for the seat.
However, the endorsement has already sparked a response from opposition figures. Kelvin D. J. Mattaldi, a member of the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR), expressed strong criticism of the CMC’s choice. In a Facebook post, Mattaldi accused the CMC of using Gblinwon to undermine the legacy of the late Senator Prince Y. Johnson, a powerful figure in Nimba County politics.
Mattaldi claimed that Gblinwon was being used as a pawn by the CMC to fight against the vision and legacy of Senator Johnson. He further asserted that the CMC was a coalition of politicians who had previously resisted Senator Johnson and were now regrouping to destroy his influence, particularly through a new candidate. Mattaldi emphasized that the real issue in the upcoming election was not Gblinwon, but rather the desire of the CMC to challenge the legacy of Senator Johnson and his political heirs.
In his post, Mattaldi also expressed sympathy for Gblinwon, claiming that the candidate had fallen into a political trap. He alluded to the strong political foundations of Johnson and other influential figures, like Representative Jeremiah Kpan Koung, suggesting that Gblinwon’s candidacy was being manipulated for broader political objectives.
“The real candidate is not Mark Gblinwon, but the desire to destroy the legacy of Senator Prince Y. Johnson,” Mattaldi declared. He also reminded Nimbaians of the overwhelming victory of the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR) in the 2023 elections, and suggested that the endorsement of Gblinwon was not as much about his qualifications, but about consolidating a political shift away from the influence of Senator Johnson’s supporters.
With the Nimba County Senatorial by-election approaching, the race is expected to intensify as both the CMC and MDR vie for control over the political legacy of one of the county’s most influential figures.
