By Jeremiah Gayflor
Nimba County Correspondent, Verity
NIMBA COUNTY – Political tensions in Nimba Electoral District #5 turned violent on Friday, just days ahead of the much-anticipated by-election scheduled for Tuesday, August 12.
Clashes erupted in the towns of Dinplay and Florlay between supporters of two leading candidates: independent hopeful Boris Barleah and Kortor Kwagrue of the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR). Several individuals were reportedly injured, and multiple campaign vehicles were damaged during the altercations.
Barleah, speaking to our Correspondent, alleged that his convoy was attacked in Dinplay, resulting in injuries and damage to two Nissan jeeps and a truck.
However, effort to reach Kwagrue offered fruitless as of Press time.
As it stands, the Liberia National Police have dispatched officers from the Police Support Unit (PSU) based in the Gbarnga Regional Hub to restore calm.
The by-election aims to fill the House of Representatives seat left vacant after Representative Samuel G. Kogar moved to the Senate following the death of Senator Prince Yormie Johnson.
Ten candidates are contesting the seat, but rising tensions have centered largely around Barleah and Kwagrue ~ allies of former district #5 representative Sen. Samuel G. Kogar. The violence comes despite a recent peace agreement in which all candidates signed the Farmington Declaration, pledging to conduct their campaigns peacefully.
Authorities are urging calm as the election draws near.
