LIBERIA – The National Campaign Management Team of the Julius Kanubah for the Press Union of Liberia Presidency says a Writ of Preliminary Injunction was prayed for by its Legal Team at the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court in Gbarnga, Bong County.
A statement released by the team says the writ was issued and served on the outgoing leadership of the Press Union of Liberia along with the 2022 PUL Congress Committee and the sub-committee on Elections and Inauguration.
The Writ of Injunction seeks to restrain and enjoin the outgoing PUL leadership together with the 2022 PUL Congress Committee and the sub-committee on Elections and Inauguration from further conducting and participating in the November 2022 PUL Congress inclusive of the elections.
The Restraining Order further seeks to ensure that the PUL leadership turns over power to a neutral body after the expiration of its three-year tenure. The neutral body will govern and take the PUL to elections within a determined period of time.
The Write of Injunction, which was served on outgoing PUL Assistant Secretary General Akoi Baysah, and outgoing PUL President Charles Coffey, was initially refused but later signed for by Mr. Charles Coffey, who had to chase the Court Sherriff in Gbartala, Bong County.
The Team Julius Kanubah Writ of Injunction was filed against the backdrop of a series of violations of the Constitution of the Press Union of Liberia by the Union’s outgoing leadership along with the Congress Committee and sub-committee on Elections and Inauguration in relation to the 2022 PUL Congress.
The 2022 PUL Congress Committee is Chaired by Mrs. Carolyn Myers-Zoduah while Attorney Ade Wede Kekuleh chairs the 2022 PUL Elections and Inauguration Committee. Both the Congress Committee and the sub-committee on Elections and Inauguration have been resistant to ensuring a credible voter roll and elections said the release.
The 2022 PUL Congress which was to be climaxed by-elections of new officers is deemed as a critical pacesetter to Liberia’s Presidential and Legislative Elections, scheduled for October 2023.
Team Kanubah believes the moral and democratic credential of the Press Union of Liberia hinges on the state of the Union’s internal democratic practices and conducts.
The release notes that since 2019 the PUL under the leadership of Charles Coffey and Daniel Nyakonah has been grossly unable to hold a credible election, something which has deeply contributed to the erosion of the legitimacy of the PUL and the standing of Liberian journalists in the national discourse on democracy and good governance.
Team Julius Kanubah is legally represented by the Supuwood and Associates Law Offices, to which, Attorney-at-Law G. Alphonso Woiwor is the lead Legal Counsel on the case. Atty. Woiwor is also a journalist by profession, with vast knowledge of Liberia’s socio-economic, political, and legal jurisprudence.
Team Kanubah urges all its supporters, members of the Press Union of Liberia, and those interested in the democratic development of the PUL and Liberia to remain peaceful and always respect the rule of law including the Code of Ethics and Conduct for Liberian journalists.
Meanwhile, the boycott by supporters of Julius Kanabah, a candidate for the press union of Liberia presidency has resulted in a poor turnout at the union Congress in Gbarnga, Bong County.
A few journalists who tuned out for the congress Friday reported that less than 30 persons were in attendance at the opening ceremonies of the congress, which started after 3 pm instead of the 8 am official scheduled time.
According to the Journalists, all guests invited to the program did not attend, except for the Chinese Ambassador, who waited for hours but had to return to Monrovia because the program did not start in time.
The incumbent vice president, Daniel Nyankonnah, who is also contesting the president post himself was not in attendance, according to Journalists. Some of his supporters said he travelled to Lofa County to receive endorsement. Outgoing President Charles Cuffey was said to be the only official who was present at the opening ceremonies.
Presidential contender Julius Kullie Kanubah had earlier called on his supporters to stay away from the program until a review of the voters’ roll is held. Officials at the press union and congress officials seem not to be willing to adhere to the demand of the Julius Kanibah team to clean up the voters’ roll.
