IPNEWS: Fresh signs of division are emerging within Liberia’s ruling Unity Party, with growing warnings that the party could split into two rival camps if urgent steps are not taken to restore internal cohesion.
Political commentator Vandallah Patrick has cautioned that the governing party is “breaking into two pieces,” a development he says could damage the political image of President Joseph Boakai and weaken the administration ahead of the next electoral cycle.
According to insiders, the emerging split centers around two powerful factions—one aligned with Vice President Jeremiah Koung and another believed to be rallying around Finance Minister Augustine Ngafuan.
The tension, sources say, is rooted in growing succession politics following President Boakai’s earlier indication that he intends to serve only one term, setting off early maneuvering among those seen as possible successors.
Patrick warned that if the President does not act swiftly to unify the competing blocs, the party could fracture in ways that may be difficult to repair.
“This is a dangerous path,” Patrick reportedly warned, stressing that the battle for succession could spiral into what he described as “a political fracture of unimaginable gravity.”
The Unity Party, founded in 1984, has historically weathered internal political storms and returned to power after winning the closely contested 2023 elections under Boakai’s leadership.
However, Political analysts say the latest internal rivalry could test the party’s stability at a critical moment.
Political observers believe how President Boakai manages the ambitions of both camps could determine not only the future of the party but also the shape of Liberia’s post-Boakai political landscape.
Recently, the rumors of an imminent split within the ruling Unity Party (UP) center on allegations that Vice President Jeremiah Koung orchestrating an internal faction to break away or seize party control.
Former Minister of Mines and Energy Wilmot Paye publicly accused VP Koung of working through Deputy House Speaker Thomas Fallah to establish a separate political movement reportedly named “NIMBO”. This alleged movement is viewed as a strategic maneuver to fracture the party or hijack its machinery ahead of future elections.
The ruling coalition, led by President Joseph Boakai, won the 2023 presidential election on a joint ticket with Koung, but underlying tensions have recently surfaced.
Wilmot Paye’s public claims on political talk shows have fueled nationwide speculation that a faction is actively organizing behind the scenes to challenge the mainstream party structure.
Amid these internal rifts, Unity Party National Chairman Rev. J. Luther Tarpeh has publicly demanded an immediate cabinet reshuffle from President Boakai. This push is seen by insiders as an effort to weed out underperforming or disloyal elements and stabilize the administration.
Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah has strongly denied signing any official membership forms or aligning with a breakaway faction, claiming his presence at recent UP events was strictly professional.
Concurrently, former UP National Chairman Amin Modad issued a public statement urging partisans to resist internal divisions and focus on President Boakai’s development agenda.
While party leadership maintains that the administration remains unified, these public accusations from high-profile figures indicate severe strategic maneuvering and a deepening internal power struggle as factions look ahead toward the next election cycle. Courtey of Daily Monitor Newspaper
