Mr. Wilmot Paye, suspended chairman of the Unity Party, is seeking the intervention of the Supreme Court to upend the party’s decision to suspend him for investigation.
In a 17-count petition for a Writ of Prohibition, Mr. Paye contends that Mr. Isaac F. Mannah, and the leadership of the party “have acted diabolically, maliciously, mischievously, woefully, illegally, unlawfully and unconstitutionally suspended him.
Paye was recently suspended by the former ruling party for act the party said violated the bylaws and constitution of the entity.
Paye stated in the petition that his exercised authority, power and rights did not in any violate any policy, rule or provision of the constitution of the Unity Party adopted on May 7, 2010 in Ganta, Nimba County.
The Justice in Chambers, Associate Justice Yussif Kaba both lawyers representing Paye and the leadership of the UP for a conference on Monday, February 3 to determine whether he will issue the Alternative Wirt of Prohibition or decline consistent with law.
According to him it was hypocritical of the party, having previously detested, resisted and opposed calls from the CDC and its allies for President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to step-down while, at this time of the regime of the CDC, condoning and support the call for President George Weah to step down.
“Today, even though the ‘Step Down’ label of the December 30, 2019 Protest appears to be removed at least officially, it is not yet clear how long the rescheduled protest will last.
In fact, we do not as yet know to what extent the already suffering and dispossessed masses can endure any endless standoff. Also, we don’t believe that it’s enough to officially remove the initial ‘Step-down’ label which from all indications seems to have been the real motivation for this new protest,” Paye was quoted by FrontPage Africa newspaper as saying.
He continued: “The Unity Party cannot and will not contradict itself because we are in opposition. Throughout our 12 years of national stewardship, we oppose protests planned to have been held under any step-down banner. The concern then is, if any such move would have rigged the recovery efforts and further polarize an already deeply divided country.
The UP chairman, without a clear sense of what may happen on January 6, said doubt is looming still as to what happens this day and therefore nothing should be overlooked or underestimated.
Therefore, the UP chairman warned, “Members, supporters, sympathizers, friends and citizens of Liberia should be cautious of Monday, January 6, and avoid the streets but monitor unfolding events from our homes.”
UP’s Reaction
Immediately after his press conference, the Unity Party in a statement clarified that the Chairman’s statement was not authorized by the leadership, noting that he acted on his own. The UP described Paye’s conference as gross insubordination, especially so when the standard-bearer a few weeks earlier had called on the Weah-led administration to allow the people to exercise their constitutional rights by protesting.
Paye’s Reaction to the Suspension
Responding to the executive committee decision, the embattled chairman said the decision was influenced by former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Mr. Boakai the current standard-bearer who served as Vice President to Mrs. Sirleaf.
Speaking to his supporters, he said, like Boakai and other party officials he was elected on July 8, 2016 by the delegates on the white ballot and it is only through such process he can be removed.
Paye: “I, Paye, and others were duly elected on a white ballot the same as the former Vice President. It is only the delegates representing the 15 counties that can make a decision. The conspiracy of Ellen and Boakai is a flop. They are fighting us because they know we hate corruption.
“No human will take away our desire to serve our people and we are in it for life. This has re-enforced our resolve to stand for the people. This is not about me or the former vice president, it is a direct attack on the collaborating efforts which our people have worked”, he adds.
