Liberia: Grassroots Petition Urges Morlu's Return To CDC

A group calling itself the "Concerned Partisans, Grassroots Mobilizers, and Supporters" of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) has sent a formal petition to former National Chairman Mulbah K. Morlu, Jr., urging him to reconsider his departure and return to the party. The petition, dated November 14, 2026, carries the theme "Experienced, Trusted, Vibrant, Capable, and No-Nonsense Leadership Ahead of the 2029 Elections" and claims to have backing from all 15 counties.

The petition makes five requests, including Morlu's return to the CDC, reconnecting with ordinary partisans, leading reconciliation between rival factions, helping to rebuild the party, and working to restore its "electoral competitiveness." While it does not explicitly ask for Morlu to regain his former position, his supporters have reportedly been organizing across several counties to push for his return to the party's top post.

The petitioners point to the 2023 election results as evidence that the CDC can still win, with the party securing 25 of the 73 House seats, the largest bloc held by any single party. They also highlight Morlu's past achievements, including his role in the 2012 internal campaign that restored George Weah as standard bearer and his defense of Weah's Senate candidacy in 2013.

Morlu's departure from the CDC in 2024 was marked by a public rift with Weah, which began in December 2019 over leaked audio recordings of Morlu making disparaging remarks about the president's personal life. Despite attempts at reconciliation, Morlu resigned as chairman in February 2024, citing a shrinking room for him to effectively do the job. He later left the party and became the lead advocate of Solidarity and Trust for a New Day (STAND), a move that led to open criticism of Weah.

As head of STAND, Morlu has become a vocal critic of the Boakai government, accusing it of police brutality, economic woes, corruption, and "political witch hunts" against opposition figures. His activism has led to friction within the opposition, with the Liberian People's Party distancing itself from STAND, accusing it of political opportunism and links to the CDC.

The CDC leadership, now led by Janga A. Kowo, has announced plans to prepare for an extraordinary national convention to reposition the party. Meanwhile, allies have started mobilizing for a Weah comeback in 2029. Morlu's response to the petition remains unclear, and it is uncertain whether the CDC leadership would welcome him back.

The petitioners remain optimistic, urging Morlu to "come back and help rebuild the house you helped construct." With the 2029 elections approaching, the CDC's future and Morlu's potential role in it remain uncertain, leaving room for speculation about the party's prospects and the impact of Morlu's possible return.

Key points

• The petition highlights Morlu's past achievements and the party's need for rebuilding ahead of the 2029 elections.