For more than four years, the Liberty Party (LP) stood on the edge of collapse, its once-strong foundation shaken by internal conflict, legal battles, and competing claims to leadership. A party that had once been a pillar of the opposition was reduced to a shadow of itself, divided into factions, locked in endless disputes, and seemingly unable to reclaim its vision. Yet, from the depths of turmoil, it has risen again reunited, reenergized, and recommitted to its founding ideals.
At the center of this revival stands Senator Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, the unwavering leader who held firm when the party was at its lowest. Handpicked by Liberty Party’s late founder, Cllr. Charles Walker Brumskine, as his political heir, she carried the weight of the party’s future on her shoulders through some of its darkest moments. Now, as the Liberty Party emerges from the crisis, she leads not just as a survivor of political battles but as a visionary and decisive leader who has restored her party’s dignity and unity.
Standing before a packed hall of partisans at the Liberty Party Convention on Saturday, February 8, 2025, Karnga-Lawrence’s voice carried the weight of history.
“For four years, we suffered a very bitter division; our hearts were broken; we battled with the National Elections Commission; we lived in the courts, including the Supreme Court; we cried together; we strategized together,” she declared to thunderous applause. “Today, we are here because even in politics, God’s time is the best.”
Her words were met with a wave of emotion—cheers, applause, and, in some corners of the room, quiet tears. It was a moment of vindication for the woman who had refused to surrender, who had fought for the principles of democracy, and who had refused to allow the Liberty Party to be hijacked or destroyed.
A Party Torn Apart
The struggle for the soul of the Liberty Party began in the wake of Brumskine’s passing, when a leadership dispute erupted between Karnga-Lawrence and Musa Bility, whose amicable return to the party turned out to be a Trojan horse. A disagreement over constitutional amendments ensued, quickly escalating into a full-blown war over the party’s future. Court battles followed, as both factions claimed legitimacy. The National Elections Commission sided with Bility, while Karnga-Lawrence’s supporters argued that the party’s constitution had been tampered with in a deliberate power grab.
For years, the Liberty Party became known not for its policies or its role in opposition politics, but for its infighting. The courts became a second home for party officials, and at times, it seemed the party would never recover.
Standing Firm
But Karnga-Lawrence never relented. She stood firm, rallying her supporters, challenging injustice, and refusing to recognize a leadership that she believed did not represent the true will of the Liberty Party. Even as some abandoned the fight, even as political pressure mounted, she remained resolute.
Her persistence was not without cost. She was expelled by her rivals, stripped of her position, and faced public attacks from those who sought to silence her. But instead of stepping aside, she intensified her efforts—pushing for legal battles, engaging party partisans across Liberia, and keeping the spirit of the Liberty Party alive even when others wrote its obituary.
Her leadership was not about personal ambition, but about principle. She was not merely fighting for herself—she was fighting for the values of transparency, democracy, and justice that the Liberty Party was founded on.
Long Road to Reconciliation
By 2024, it was clear that the Liberty Party could not continue on its divided path. Both sides had suffered, and the party had lost influence in the political landscape. It was Karnga-Lawrence who seized the moment, embracing the difficult but necessary work of reconciliation.
A breakthrough came with the formation of the Joint Reconciliation Committee, led by Hon. Jacob Smith. For four months, the committee worked tirelessly, navigating complex political grievances, rebuilding trust, and crafting a roadmap for reunification.
At the Liberty Party’s Special National Convention from February 7-9, 2025, the fruits of this effort were realized. The party’s constitution was corrected, the National Executive Committee was reinstated, and most importantly, former rivals stood together under a common banner.
Karnga-Lawrence, rather than using the moment to assert dominance, chose unity. She embraced the reconciliation process fully, ensuring that even those who had opposed her in the past had a place in the future of the Liberty Party.
“This moment is bigger than any one individual,” she told the gathering. “We have reclaimed our party not for personal ambition, but because Liberia needs a strong and principled opposition.”
The convention became not just a moment of policymaking, but of healing. Party members who had not spoken in years embraced each other. Delegates from across the country pledged to move forward. The divisions that had once defined the Liberty Party were replaced with a sense of renewal.
Rebirth and Vindication
The Liberty Party that emerged from the February convention is not the same party that had spent years in disarray. It is a party with a restored identity, prepared to play a central role in Liberia’s political future. It is a party that has survived one of the most bruising internal battles in Liberian political history and emerged stronger.
And at its helm is Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, whose vision, resilience, and commitment to the party’s founding principles made this renewal possible. She did not just lead the party through the crisis—she carried it through, ensuring that it would not only survive but thrive.
Her leadership has cemented her place in history. She has proven that true leadership is not about seeking power, but about defending principle—even when the odds seem impossible.
“There were moments when many thought the Liberty Party would not survive,” she acknowledged. “But here we are, stronger, united, and ready to serve Liberia with honor and dedication.”
As the Liberty Party now looks toward the future—toward upcoming elections, toward reclaiming its role as a force for change in Liberia—it does so under the steady hand of a leader who refused to surrender.
Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence has not only led the Liberty Party back from the brink—she has ensured that its future is brighter (or perhaps greener) than ever.
