MONROVIA, Liberia — The resignation of Montserrado County Senator Saah Joseph from the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) has continued to generate political debate, with party officials and supporters weighing in on its implications for Liberia’s largest opposition party.
In a statement defending CDC National Chairman Janga Augustus Kowo’s remarks, a senior party supporter described the departure of Senator Joseph as “an impediment” to the party’s growth, noting that the loss of any member—regardless of their social or economic standing—affects the CDC’s numerical strength.
“The CDC is an institution that requires numbers. Every CDCian is important to the growth and success of the party,” the supporter said, adding that politics is a “game of numbers” and that Senator Joseph’s exit, along with supporters who may follow him, creates a political vacuum.
Departure Described as Premeditated
The statement alleged that Senator Joseph’s resignation was “premeditated” and criticized the manner of his departure. The supporter also rejected claims made by Senator Joseph during a live interview on SPOON TV that CDC members had burned down his residence, calling such accusations “falsehoods.”
“With over 15 years of notable contributions to the CDC, it’s obvious that a vacuum is being created,” the supporter said. “Saah Joseph was synergistic in his breakaway, thereby carrying along more supporters who are, or were also CDCians.”
CDC’s History of Political Resilience
While acknowledging the loss as a setback, the statement emphasized the party’s resilience in the face of past defections. “The CDC is a movement, not a monument,” it read. “We must expect continuous inflow and outflow of people. History has it that the CDC has experienced more breakaways than this, yet bounced back better than ever.”
The supporter urged party members not to dismiss the impact of the resignation, warning that “every single CDCian breakaway is an impediment to the institution.” The call was for unity, reconciliation, and outreach to regain lost members ahead of future political contests.
Call for Internal Recalibration
The statement further urged the party to face the political realities of the moment rather than “shadowboxing.”
“All is not well,” it read. “We must recalibrate our system and gear up to the battle ahead. Let’s not be complacent. We need to be more friendly than offensive; we need to regain our lost souls at all cost. In the end, when the roll is called yonder, it’s numbers that matter.”
Senator Saah Joseph, who served the CDC for over a decade and a half, has yet to respond directly to the remarks from Chairman Kowo’s supporters. His resignation marks one of the most high-profile departures from the party since the 2023 elections, with political observers watching closely to see whether it signals a broader shift in the opposition landscape.
