MONROVIA — Alternative National Congress (ANC) Political Leader Alexander B. Cummings has dismissed concerns that his party could be affected by Liberia’s controversial 2% election threshold, accusing Senator Abraham Darius Dillon of politicizing the issue.
Speaking on Sky FM’s 50-50 Talk Show, Cummings argued that the legal provision applies to political institutions rather than individual officeholders and maintained that the ANC’s political future is not under threat.
“Just to clear the air. I think Dillon knew this, but he was playing politics,” Cummings said. “The CPP got less than 2%, but got CPP Representatives. One from Nimba, one from Maryland, one from Grand Kru. Even Dillon is a CPP Senator. Nyonblee is a CPP Senator. The CPP had at least five candidates that won.”
Cummings noted that the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP), of which the ANC was a constituent member during the 2023 elections, secured elected lawmakers despite obtaining less than 2% of the presidential vote.
“The ANC was not on the ballot. CPP was on the ballot. The law applies to the institution and not the individual,” he stated. “They were playing politics. This was meant to be political. It was meant to be a distraction. And we will play politics with Dillon, too, in 2029.”
The debate centers on Section 5.1(a) of Liberia’s Amended 2014 New Election Law, which states that a registered political party that fails to obtain at least two percent of votes cast in a presidential election or fails to win at least one seat in the Legislature may be barred from participating in subsequent elections.
Several political parties fell below the 2% presidential vote threshold in the 2023 elections, including the All Liberia Coalition Party (1.96%), the CPP (1.61%), the Liberian People’s Party (1.44%), the Liberia Restoration Party (0.85%), the Movement for Progressive Change (0.72%), the Democratic National Allegiance (0.61%), the New Liberia Party (0.53%), and the Vision for Liberia Transformation (0.50%).
However, political observers note that the law contains an alternative requirement allowing parties that secure at least one legislative seat to maintain their standing, a provision cited by Cummings in defense of the ANC and former CPP candidates who won legislative offices.
The comments add a new dimension to the ongoing political rivalry between Cummings and Dillon as political actors begin positioning themselves for Liberia’s 2029 elections.
