Liberian music union elects new leader

To be elected president, Gboguy defeated his rival Rokenzy Gemuba Smith. Smith reportedly received 45 votes. Gboguy’s 292 votes were enough to get him elected. It was the union’s first election in a decade.

The election, which took place at the Ministry of Information in Monrovia, had delegates from the union’s chapters in attendance. Registered voters were 344 in number, considerably larger than the just over 30 voters who, not long before the elections, had reportedly paid the union’s dues and were eligible.

The process of the election was headed by Deputy Minister of Information for Cultural Affairs and Tourism Lance K Gbagonyon and Assistant Minister for Cultural Affairs Margaret Cooper Frank. Gbagonyon’s ministry had vowed to revamp the troubled union, especially after a group of musicians, named the Concerned Musicians of Liberia, petitioned the authorities over MULIB’s inability to conduct meetings and manage its affairs.

In other elections that took place, Lucinda FP Dixon, who received 250 votes, emerged national treasurer ahead of Curtis McCabe. McDonald K Parcular was elected first vice-president and Miatta Love Kamara second vice-president.

Brenda Bortey Sims is the national secretary-general, winning the position over Sam Payedoo (alias DJ Weezy). Florence Ballah Korboi was voted in as national welfare officer over Arnold WD Lablah (popularly known as King Sokoloko). Majaidah Queen Dolo emerged national organiser with 254 votes, defeating Tobias Jrikan.

While Payedoo said he would offer the new officials support and urged others to do the same, the results of the elections were not unanimously accepted by all of the candidates.

Smith said he would be taking the election commission of the union to court. He said the process was not credible. The commission failed to verify the list of voters prior to the election. “How realistic is it for me to get 45 votes,” he said. “They wanted us to break glasses here but we will not do that, we will take the legal steps.”

Lablah, an associate of Smith, also said the election procedure was not devoid of problems. According to him, some contestants brought in persons who were not members of the union to vote. Like Smith, he declared he would be seeking legal redress.