Senator Nathaniel F. McGill, a Margibi lawmaker and former Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, has delivered a scathing critique of the ruling Unity Party (UP) administration, predicting an outright first-round defeat for President Joseph Nyuma Boakai in the upcoming 2029 general elections. McGill cited broken promises and failed governance as the basis for his prediction. He made these remarks during a candid interview with a select group of journalists in Monrovia.
McGill asserted that the current administration has fundamentally failed to fulfill the promises made to the Liberian people on the 2023 campaign trail. He warned that despite visible signs of public frustration and economic stagnation, officials around the President continue to shield him from reality, paving the way for political retribution at the ballot box. According to McGill, the Unity Party's tenure would be short-lived, arguing that the Liberian electorate will punish the ruling party for failing to translate macroeconomic statistics into household financial relief.
Addressing the future of Liberian politics, McGill declared that President Boakai will lose the election, stating, "Boakai is my uncle, but he will lose the election." He attributed this to the President being misled by young officials in the government who, he claims, are ruining the government and do not want to carry the blame alone. McGill also issued a stern warning against any covert attempts to manipulate or rig the 2029 presidential elections, cautioning that the Liberian masses would fiercely resist any effort to undermine the democratic process.
McGill emphasized that any attempt to rig the election will meet popular resistance, stating, "Warn the government against rigging the election in 2029 as it may backfire because the Liberian people will resist." He highlighted the sheer number of the masses, saying, "You have 15,000 policemen, but how can you resist the masses made up of more than 100,000 persons?" This warning signals an opposition already sharpening its message for 2029.
Reflecting on the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) administration's loss in the 2023 elections, McGill admitted that the former ruling party made mistakes during its six-year tenure but highlighted that the CDC has emerged from defeat wiser, more united, and deeply reflective. "I know there are some things we did wrong; we are not perfect," McGill conceded. "But the best thing is to correct yourself. We have learned from our mistakes."
McGill defended the development record of former President George M. Weah's administration, outlining the severe structural headwinds inherited by the CDC government upon taking office in 2018. He recalled that while the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf administration enjoyed over a decade of billions of dollars in direct international donor support and external security funding, the CDC government assumed full financial and operational responsibility for national security, policing, and governance within its first three months.
McGill described his career as a steep learning curve, tracing his evolution from a youthful organizer in 1997 to becoming standard-bearer George Weah's co-captain in building the CDC into a formidable political force in 2011 and 2017. He spoke openly about the U.S. Treasury sanctions imposed on him while serving as Minister of State, framing the action as politically motivated rather than legally sound. McGill expressed full willingness to serve in any capacity requested by the party, including returning to the national chairmanship.
Key points
- McGill predicts President Joseph Boakai's first-round defeat in the 2029 elections.
- McGill warns against any attempt to rig the 2029 presidential elections.
- McGill admits CDC made mistakes but claims the party has learned from them.
