Unity Party (Liberia)

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Unity Party
Abbreviation	UP
Chairperson
Senate Leader	Joseph Boakai ()
Founded	1984
Ideology	Liberal democracy Economic liberalism
Political position	Centre to centre-right
International affiliation	International Democrat Union
Continental affiliation	Democrat Union of Africa
Colours	Green and maroon
Slogan	One Nation, One People, With Liberty And Justice For All
Seats in the Senate	13 / 30
Seats in the House	20 / 73
Pan African Parliament	2 / 5
Website
http://www.theunitypartyliberia.org
Politics of Liberia Political parties Elections

The Unity Party (UP) is a political party in Liberia that was started in 1984 by Edward B. Kesselly, also its first standard bearer. Officially founded at Buchanan in Grand Bassa County, the party was established on 27 July 1985.^[1] The Unity Party participated in the first elections after the 1980 coup, running against President Samuel Doe in October 1985. The party has remained active in Liberian politics since and was, until 2017, the ruling party.

In the elections held on 19 July 1997, the UP presidential candidate Ellen Johnson Sirleaf won 9.58% of the vote. The party won 7 of 64 seats in the House of Representatives and 3 of 26 in the Senate. While international observers deemed the polls administratively free and transparent, they noted that it had taken place in an atmosphere of intimidation because most voters believed that former rebel leader and National Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate Charles Taylor would return to war if defeated.

Unity Party candidate Sirleaf won the 2005 presidential elections, defeating George Weah of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) in a run-off. The party also won 3 seats in the Senate and 8 in the House of Representatives. The merger of the Liberia Unification Party and the Liberian Action Party into the Unity Party on 1 April 2009 substantially increased its representation in the Legislature.^[2]

The party lost in the run-off of the 2017 presidential and representatives elections to ex-footballer, George Weah.^[3] On 13 January 2018 the party expelled^[4] President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf from the party for campaigning for and with Weah against her own Vice President, Joseph Boakai, who was campaigning on the party ticket.^[5]

Party Leadership[]

Former Vice President Boakai remains the Standard Bearer of the Party and the leading opposition contender for the upcoming 2023 Presidential elections. Hon. Boakai was instrumental in the formation of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) that brought together the four largest opposition political parties, the All Liberian Party (ALP), the Alternative National Congress (ANC), the Liberty Party (LP), and the Unity Party (UP) to form a opposition bloc against Pres. Weah's Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC).

The Party is constitutionally led by its chairman, Amin Modad, elected in September 2020 with over 62% majority after defeating veteran politician Sen. Conmany Wesseh and others. Elected along with other core executives, Amin Modad brings in the credibility and a pro-business experience that is much needed to revive the Party and positively influence the national political discourse. He has always been a trailblazer; with over 20 years of public and private sectors experience, Amin Modad is one of Liberia’s few trade development experts and postwar entrepreneurial success stories.

He has served as Liberia’s first representative to the World Trade Organization, headed the multi-donor funded Enhanced Integrated Framework Program in Liberia, and served as Sr. Policy Advisor to the government of Liberia on trade and investment. He has played a key role in Liberia’s post-conflict recovery especially with regards establishing key economic policies and Liberia’s integration into the multilateral trading system.

Electoral history[]

Presidential elections[]

Election	Candidate	Votes	%	Votes	%	Result
		First round		Second round
1997	Ellen Johnson Sirleaf	59,557	9.58%	-	-	Lost N
2005		192,326	19.8%	478,526	59.4%	Elected Y
2011		530,020	43.9%	607,618	90.7%	Elected Y
2017	Joseph Boakai	446,716	28.8%	457,579	38.5%	Lost N

House of Representatives elections[]

Election	Vote	%	Seats	+/–	Position
1997	59,557	9.57%	7 / 120	7	2nd
2005	123,373	12.49%	8 / 64	1	4th
2011	226,291	17.76%	24 / 73	2	1st
2017	220,508	14.32%	19 / 73	4	2nd

Senate elections[]

Election	Votes	%	Seats	+/–	Position
1997	59,557	9.57%	3 / 26	3	2nd
2005	222,705	12.93%	4 / 30	1	2nd
2011	164,851	12.85%	10 / 30	1	1st
2014	47,123	10.33%	8 / 30	2	1st
2020[a]	354,898	40.27%	13 / 30	5	1st

References[]

https://thenewdawnliberia.com/new-faces-in-up/

External links[]

• Weah cries foul in Liberia's presidential play-off, Sam Knight and agencies, The Sunday Times Online, November 10, 2005