The National Chairman of the National Patriotic Party (NPP) James Biney has been relieved of his position with unanimous votes by members of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).
The latest decision of the NPP against its embattled Chairman followed his suspension earlier this year after he refused to sign the new agreement that reaffirmed the three members of the ‘Grand Coalition’ – the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), Liberian People’s Democratic Party (LPDP) and the NPP to stay together.
According to the party’s NEC release, their action to relieve Biney off his position was triggered by a ‘grievous complaint’ filed to the Grievance Committee by members of the party.
Recently, the NPP suspended Biney who is currently serving as Senator of Maryland County for ‘acts incompatible with his status as National Chairman including his failure to honor the instruction of two-third majority of the NEC by not signing the Coalition Framework Document authorized by the NPP National Executive Committee (NEC).’
With immediate effect, the NEC mandated the Grievance Committee (GE) to investigate the allegations against the Maryland County Senator for his acts in direct defiance of the NEC and come up with recommendations.
In a press release, the group stated that the action by Senator Biney was inimical to his office as chairman of the NPP and as such, should be investigated
The investigation followed a special session held on March 25, last weekend at the National headquarters of the NPP where the Chairman was cited to appear before the NEC to answer to allegations levied against him.
At the meeting, the NEC informed party litigants that they have opted to relieving its chairman of his position with immediate effect and warned the public not to do business with him.
They, however, informed the public of its new chairman Atty George S. Mulbah, and called all other institutions to relate to Atty Mulbah as the legitimate chairman of the National Patriotic Party.
“We encourage the general public, members of the constituent parties within the Coalition for Democratic Change, international community, National Elections Commission, Political Parties and all elections related organizations to freely transact business with Hon. George S. Mulbah as the National chairman of the National Patriotic Party ” the party said in the release.
The NPP of jailed ex-president Charles Ghankay Taylor has been engulfed in an acrimonious internal wrangling that that led to the splitting of the party at its biennial convention in 2022.
The event held at the Paynesville City Hall resulted into violent altercations between two opposing sides – one led by the party’s political leader and standard bearer, Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor on one side, and the expelled Chairman Biney on the side. Biney was supported by key family members of former President Taylor and the new chairman, George Mulbah.
Following the split, the Coalition for Democratic Change led by President George Weah launched several efforts in a bid to amicable resolve the dispute.
While appeared that the dust was being settled, Biney refused to bow to pressure from his party and the ruling CDC to affix his signature to the new framework document, binding the coalition together for their second ultimate mission: the 2023 Presidential and Legislative Elections.