This Party Is No Helping Verb’: Dillon Hits Back at UP, Looks Ahead to 2029

Beuchana, Grand Bassa County, The Liberty Party has broken ground for a new headquarters complex in Buchanan, with its Political Leader, Senator Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, setting a one-year construction target for the five-building project, estimated at slightly more than US$400,000.

The groundbreaking formed part of the party’s rebranding program, which also featured Charlesline Brumskine’s announcement that she was stepping away from active party leadership, Senator Abraham Darius Dillon’s rejection of the “helping verb” description attributed to the Unity Party chairman, and Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah’s call for the ruling party to respect its allies and ordinary Liberians.

Karnga-Lawrence, who also serves as Grand Bassa County Senator and Senate President Pro Tempore, said the headquarters project would provide a permanent facility for the Liberty Party’s operations.

“This party headquarters will be built within one year period, and our budget for the five buildings is little over four hundred thousand United States dollars,” she said.

The planned complex is expected to support the party’s administrative, political and organizational activities as it works to strengthen its structures and presence across Liberia.

Karnga-Lawrence said the construction timetable reflected the party’s commitment to completing the development and providing a modern headquarters for its activities.

During the program, Charlesline Brumskine, daughter of the late Liberty Party founder and former Political Leader Charles Walker Brumskine, announced her decision to step away from active leadership as she prepares to serve outside Liberia as a judge.

Brumskine said her departure would allow her to pursue her judicial responsibilities while creating space for a new direction within the party.

She endorsed Karnga-Lawrence as the face of the Liberty Party, describing her as positioned to carry forward its political representation and ambition of eventually reaching Liberia’s highest elected office, the presidency.

Brumskine also challenged young Liberians and Liberty Party members to take ownership of the party’s future. She urged them to make responsible, strategic decisions and participate more actively in shaping its next chapter.

Her announcement comes after years of internal disagreements within the Liberty Party, including disputes over leadership, political alliances and its relationship with the Unity Party-led government.

The decision places further attention on Karnga-Lawrence’s role in guiding the party’s future, strengthening its political identity and advancing its long-term ambitions.

Meanwhile, Senator Abraham Darius Dillon, the Liberty Party’s Vice Chairman for Political Affairs, rejected remarks attributed to the Unity Party chairman characterizing the LP as a “helping verb.”

Dillon insisted that the Liberty Party has its own political identity and would collectively decide its direction ahead of the 2029 elections.

“I want to reecho, as Vice Chair for Political Affairs, this party is no helping verb. This party is no helping verb. In 2029, we all together will give direction for our party and country,” Dillon said.

His statement challenged the suggestion that the Liberty Party’s role is limited to supporting the Unity Party. However, his remarks did not specify whether the LP would contest independently or enter a political alliance in 2029.

Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah also cautioned members of the ruling Unity Party to remain humble, respect their political allies and pay attention to the concerns of ordinary Liberians.

Speaking at the rebranding launch, Fallah urged the ruling party to respect the “little man,” warning against the belief that gaining political power removes the obligation to listen and remain accountable.

“If you think you have arrived and you don’t want to listen, then we will show ourselves,” Fallah warned.

His comments appeared directed at officials and supporters who downplay the contributions of alliance parties and voters.

Fallah, who leads the National Independent Movement for Boakai, nevertheless reaffirmed his support for President Joseph Nyuma Boakai. He said that despite the country’s challenges, Liberia was moving in the right direction and his political camp would not support efforts that could reverse that progress.

“We are not prepared to go backward. Liberia is on the right path with President Joseph Boakai,” he said.

The program brought the Liberty Party’s infrastructure plans and political future into focus, with leaders pledging a new headquarters, encouraging greater youth participation and asserting the party’s right to determine its own direction ahead of 2029.