Liberia's main opposition party, the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), has warned the ruling Unity Party that it will "heavily resist" any attempt to manipulate or rig the 2029 presidential and general elections. The warning was issued at the party's annual Martyrs' Day commemoration, which concluded this weekend in Kinjor, Grand Cape Mount County.

Keynote speaker Paulita CC Wie, a former CDC senatorial candidate, told thousands of supporters that the party would no longer take a passive approach to defending the mandate of its standard-bearer, former President George Weah. "We will not carry Bibles on our chests anymore come 2029," she said. "If the Unity Party wants war, we will give it to them. If they want peace, we will also give them peace."

The comments, reported by Independent Probe News on 9 November, mark an early escalation in the contest for the October 2029 elections, still almost three years away. The CDC is already mobilising for a comeback after losing power to President Joseph Boakai's Unity Party.

Fiery warnings at Martyrs' Day

The four-day Martyrs' Day event brought together thousands of partisans, national leaders and opposition figures to honour CDC members who died during the party's political struggles. The party announced the formal establishment of a "National Roll of Fallen CDC Partisans" to preserve their legacy, recalling clashes including the "Bloody Monday" incident of 7 November 2011.

Montserrado County Senator Nathaniel McGill told supporters the party was putting measures in place to safeguard the integrity of the 2029 ballots. "I want you to go home knowing that your vote in 2029 is safe," he said, adding that the people's will must be respected at the polls.

The Kinjor warnings follow earlier remarks by senior CDC figures. The party's Vice Chairman for Political Education, Alvin Wesseh, publicly declared that Liberia could "return to civil war" if the government attempted to manipulate or steal the 2029 polls, while CDC-USA Chairman Success A.B. Dennis warned that anyone attempting to rig the elections would be chased "from street to street".

Unity Party dismisses the claims

The ruling Unity Party has dismissed the rigging allegations. Its National Assistant Secretary General, Amos Tweh, described the opposition's claims as "whispers and street-corner theories", and pro-government figures maintain that the Boakai administration has no intention of engaging in electoral malpractice. They argue the Unity Party will win fairly on its governance record.

Pro-government voices and political commentators condemned the CDC's language as "complete political recklessness", warning that invoking Liberia's history of civil conflict for electoral leverage could incite violence and undermine the National Elections Commission. Government officials have called on civil society groups, the Interreligious Council of Liberia, and international partners including ECOWAS and the United States Embassy to condemn statements promoting instability.

Budget attack and early mobilisation

Beyond the election warnings, Wie used her keynote address to attack the Boakai administration's US$1.2 billion national budget, alleging that heavy public spending has fuelled official corruption while failing to improve the economic conditions facing ordinary Liberians.

The commemoration also served as the launchpad for the CDC's early mobilisation strategy. Alongside rallies and leadership meetings, the party held a symbolic groundbreaking ceremony for a new regional headquarters. With the election scheduled for October 2029, both sides are already framing the contest — the CDC around defending its vote, and the Unity Party around its record in office. No evidence has been presented publicly to support the rigging allegations, which the ruling party rejects.