Unity Party of Liberia expels President Johnson-Sirleaf

The outgoing President of Liberia and leader of the defeated Unity Party (UP) has expelled President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf for alleged anti-party activities as well as her inability to secure victory for the party.

In a statement issued by its Assistant Secretary General for Public Outreach, Mohammed Ali, the party on Sunday made public the decision.

According to Ali, the president was expelled on Saturday evening following several violations of the party’s constitution and other “acts inimical to the existence and reputation of the party”.

Recall that President Johnson-Sirleaf whose 12-year tenure will end on Jan. 22, was accused of breaching rules that required her to support the party’s candidates in elections.

The statement said, “The outgoing president never campaigned for her Vice, the UP’s presidential candidate, Joseph Boakai, during the last general elections”.

This inaction according to him, fueled speculation of a rift between her and Boakai, who has been Vice President for 12 years.

“There were also rumours that she secretly supported the candidacy of the President-elect, George Weah, who ran on the platform of the opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC).”

As part of its cleansing measures, the party had to shut the door against the President who has less that one week to the end of her tenure.

In the just concluded Liberias elextiin, the football legend, George Weah defeated Boakai in the delayed presidential run-off election on Dec. 26.

Myke Uzendu.