– Lone Female Candidate Faces Ten Men In Nimba D #5 By-Election
BY: SHALLON S. GONLOR / shallonsgonlor@gmail.com
NIMBA COUNTY — For now, Madam Madee Kamah Wongbay is the sole female representative aspirant in the upcoming District 5, Nimba County Representative Byelection, according to NEC-Liberia’s preliminary list of registered aspirants. Madam Wongbay throws her hat into the race under the platform of the Liberia Rebuilding Party (REBUILDERS) — competing with ten male contenders.
The National Elections Commission of Liberia released preliminary list of aspirants who sofar expressed interest to contest for the District 5, Nimba County Representative seat shows a total of eleven registered aspirants — one female and ten males — including 3 independent aspirants, and 8 political parties’ aspirants.
NEC-Liberia preliminary list of aspirants, to enter the by-election race include Boris B. Barlea; Independent, Abraham Karkpo of Liberia Transformation Party (LTP), Kortor Sehwongbay Kwagrue running on the Movement for Democratic and Reconstruction (MDR) ticket, Takpor A. Mambia; Independent, and Augustus Karnay Menkoah of Vision for Liberia Transformation (VOLT).
Others are Miamen C-Borkoah of the Liberia National Union (LINU), Joseph Gondee Wehyee; Liberia People’s Democratic Party, Cole Williams; Independent, lone female Madee Kamah Wongbay; Liberia Rebuilding Party, Samson Zayean Wonnah; Democratic People’s Party of Liberia, and Jackson Soumie Yuo of the National Democratic Coalition (NDC).
As required by law, NEC-Liberia publicly posted the names of the aspirants who qualify under the Revised Electoral Law (2010) to be listed on the ballot as hopeful for the representative by-election. Voting will take place August 12, 2025 from 8am – 6pm.
Voters in District 5, Nimba County Representative Byelection will go to the polls to replace former representative now Senator Samuel Kogar, who was recently elected as Senator of Nimba County.
Among the eleven registered aspirants, Madam Madee Kamah Wongbay, the lone female aspirant has vowed to defeat all ten men soundly and emerge as the first-ever female representative of District 5, Nimba County. Female participation in politics and winning in Nimba has historically been swept under the carpet — as female politicians suffered defeat and dire consequences.
Currently, not a single person is occupying high-level elective positions in the county in post-war Liberia.
In Nimba County’s District 5 political history, Madam Madee Kamah Wongbay, a native daughter of the district presently stands out as the first and only female representative hopeful. If provided the elective space, her tenure will shift the narrative to be remembered for administrative prudence and developmental strides.
This legacy, Madee Kamah Wongbay believes will serve as both an inspiration and a benchmark for her ambition and women’s political leadership in high-level decision-making. A grassroots mobilizer and seasoned humanitarian, she described her entry into the race as a response to a “clarion call” for competent and inclusive governance. “What a man can do, a woman can do even better,” she said confidently, pledging to bring a fresh, people-oriented agenda to Nimba D-5.
“Women are natural managers. Give a woman a house, and she’ll make it a home. I intend to make entire District 5 a model of inclusive governance; where youth and women empowerment, healthcare for pregnant women, education, and infrastructure take center stage.”
Madam Wongbay remains undeterred. She expressed confidence that her deep connection with the grassroots, political structure, and experience in community development will give her a competitive edge.
“I am not intimidated by their number. God has designed it that I will face this battle as the only woman, and I believe I will come out victorious. I’m not just in the race to add to the numbers—I am here to win,” she asserted. If successful, she promises to prioritize security, the young generations, education, healthcare, and agriculture, accountability and transparency, uphold cultural values, and reconciliation — an achievement that could further boost female political participation in Nimba politics and beyond.
As campaign activities intensify, elected officials of District #5 are engaging in community forums, town hall meetings, and radio talk shows, scrutinizing each aspirant’s agenda for education, agriculture, road connectivity, youth empowerment, and health care. The final list of candidates will be confirmed after the NEC completes its verification and hearing processes.
