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Vision for Liberia Transformation

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Not to be confused with Liberia Transformation Party.

The Vision for Liberia Transformation (VOLT) is a political party in Liberia.

History

[edit]

VOLT was certified by the National Elections Commission (NEC) in May 2016.[1] Dr. Jeremiah Z. Whapoe was the party's first presidential candidate. Whapoe is a social entrepreneur and a nephew of notable 20th-century Liberian politician Jackson Doe.[2] Rodney Sieh of FrontPage Africa wrote that Whapoe "prioritized agriculture on the campaign trail".[3] On July 11, 2017, Whapoe announced that VOLT had selected former assistant agriculture minister Isaac Flowers of Bomi County as the party's running mate.[4] In the 2017 presidential election, Whapoe received 3,946 votes, 0.3% of the total vote.[5] In the subsequent run-off election, Whapoe supported Unity Party (UP) candidate Joseph Boakai.[6] In the 2017 House of Representatives election, VOLT ran 25 candidates.[5] None won election.[7]

On August 31, 2020, the NEC certified the Rainbow Alliance (RA). The political alliance initially contained VOLT, along with six other parties.[8] The RA planned to contest the 2023 presidential election.[9] In 2020, the RA contested the Senate election. None of its candidates were elected.[10] By March 2022, VOLT had withdrawn from the RA.[11]

Whapoe again contested the presidency with VOLT in the 2023 election. On July 6, Whapoe had announced that VOLT had selected Erasmus Daoda Fahnbulleh as his running mate. Fahnbulleh was the chairman of VOLT, as well as a former employee of the Ministry of Agriculture.[12] In the 2023 election, in one precinct code, "GDM", the acronym for the Grassroots Development Movement, appeared on the ballot twice, once beside GDM candidate Edward W. Appleton's name, and once beside Whapoe's name, instead of the appropriate acronym "VOLT".[13] After the election, Whapoe claimed that the NEC had intentionally printed the flawed ballots to divert votes from VOLT to the GDM.[14] In the subsequent run-off election, Whapoe again endorsed UP candidate Boakai.[15] In the 2023 legislative elections, VOLT ran 10 candidates in the House and 1 candidate in the Senate.[16][17] Gbessie Sonii Feika was elected to the House in the Grand Cape Mount County #3 District.[18]

References

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  1. ^ "Liberia Certifies 22nd Political Party Ahead of 2017 Elections". FrontPage Africa. 8 May 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  2. ^ "Jackson Doe Incarnate: Slain Politician's Nephew Eyes Presidency". FrontPage Africa. 12 October 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  3. ^ Sieh, Rodney D. (16 October 2017). "Liberia Elections: Runoff Lobbying Underway – Weah, VP Look to Build Alliances". FrontPage Africa. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  4. ^ "Presidential Contender Whapoe Picks Agriculturist As Running Mate". FrontPage Africa. 13 July 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  5. ^ a b "National Elections in Liberia, Fall 2017" (PDF). Carter Center. 2017. pp. 47, 217. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  6. ^ Karmo, Henry (21 December 2017). "Boakai Seals Another Endorsement Ahead of December 26 Vote". FrontPage Africa. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  7. ^ "LAST ELECTIONS". Inter-Parliamentary Union. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  8. ^ "NEC Certificates Rainbow Alliance to Participate in the Ongoing Elections". National Elections Commission. 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  9. ^ "Liberia: 11 Political Parties Form 'Rainbow Alliance' through Collaboration". FrontPage Africa. 23 May 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  10. ^ "2020 SENATORIAL ELECTION RESULTS". National Elections Commission (Liberia). 21 December 2020. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  11. ^ Peters, Lincoln G. (28 March 2022). "Liberia: Rainbow Alliance Cracks, Dr. Whapoe Withdraws Membership". The New Dawn Liberia. AllAfrica. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  12. ^ Fellajuah, Stephen G. (7 July 2023). "Whapoe Picks Running Mate -Says Liberia Lost Direction under Weah". The Analyst Liberia. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  13. ^ Banwon, Olivia (15 October 2023). "Yes, Grassroots Democratic Party (GDM) Is Recorded Twice on Presidential Record of the Count". Local Voices Liberia. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  14. ^ Peters, Lincoln G. (12 October 2023). "Whapoe alleges diversion of his votes". The New Dawn Liberia. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  15. ^ Peters, Lincoln G. (13 November 2023). "VOLT endorses Boakai-Koung ticket". The New Dawn Liberia. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  16. ^ "2023 Candidate Nomination House of Representative Aspirants Preliminary List" (PDF). National Elections Commission. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  17. ^ "2023 Candidate Nomination Senate Aspirants Preliminary List" (PDF). National Elections Commission. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  18. ^ "2023 House of REPRESENTATIVES ELECTION RESULTS". National Elections Commission. 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
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