- By Ishmael F. Menkor
Eligible citizens of Nimba County district #5 are going to the polls today to elect a new representative amidst concerns about security threats. More than 29,000 eligible voters in the district are participating in this election to fill the seat previously held by Samuel Kogar, who replaced the late Senator Johnson in a senatorial by-election held a few months ago.
There are ten candidates vying for the position, with three running independently and seven representing political parties.
Among the top contenders identified in opinion polls are Kortor Kwagrue from the Movement of Democracy and Reconstruction, Bories Barlea as an independent candidate, Cole Williams also independent, and Augustus Mankoah from Victory for Liberia Transformation, reflecting a diverse field.
The National Elections Commission has established a monitoring office in Buutuo to oversee the conduct of the first by-election in the predominantly Dan/Gio communities.
Violent incidents occurred during the campaign’s closure over the weekend, particularly involving clashes between two leading candidates, Barlea, Kwagrue, which caused injuries and property damage.
The exact cause of the conflict that occurred on August 7, remains unclear, prompting fears among voters and residents. The Liberia National Police deployed heavily armed forces to restore peace following the violent incidents leading up to election day.
The violence brought dark clouds over the district, creating fears among voters, something many believed will likely drive voters away.
“We are afraid and confused of the conflict that is engulfing the campaign and we don’t know what will happen on election day,” said Hagbeato, a resident of Frolay. “We are not seeing police patrol around us, as it is done in the urban community, before police respond, things will be off hand.”
Nimba District 5 is predominantly Dan/Gio settlement, bordering largely with the Ivory Coast on the East, but the road condition could likely hamper police swift response to an incident.
Barlea and Kwagrue are said to be the main contenders among the contestants.
Supporters of Bories Barlea, a former staff of the Ministry of Education, who had contested twice and lost to Korgar, believed that this time, their candidate had the popularity among the citizens backed by his recent rehabilitation of feeder roads across the district.
Kortor Kwagrue is said to be one of the youngest in the election, with little or no experience of working for the government, he had support among the youth, he came second in the 2023 election to Kogar.
He is among the favourite because of support from the youth and his involvement with some development initiatives in the district.
The conflict between the two men disrupted the only debate held on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 in Buutuo Town, after some supporters of the two men went on the rampage with a battle cry in the debate hall.
Among the 10 candidates, three who turned out for the debate included, Mr. Bories Barlea, Mr. Kortor Kwagrue, and Mr. Takpor Manbiah.
In the same 2023 election, a ballot box was allegedly hijacked by some unknown angry supporters in Gruzeanplay polling place in the same district. Luckily, the counting process was over, or it was going to another rerun in the 2023 election in that polling place.
In the 2020 senatorial election campaign, a similar incident occurred between supporters of Jeremiah Koung and Garrison Yealue at the local radio station in Buutuo,
Key issues and tensions in the election campaign have involved the road conditions in Nimba District 5, as well as contrasting candidate characteristics and support bases.
The significant presence of both independent candidates and political party representatives underscores the diversity of choices available to district residents.
