Monrovia – Following the disqualification of his presidential bid in the ensuing May 15 Elective Congress of the Liberia Football Association (LFA), the Chief Executive Officer of FC Fassell, Cassell Anthony along with his legal team has vowed to fight till the end.
By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway
On the submission of applications for different positions in Liberia football governing body – LFA, the Elections Commission headed Cllr. Meo Beyan, denied Mr. Kuoh and Sekou Keita from contesting, citing integrity and legal requirements.
But Mr. Kuoh has sharply criticized the electoral process overseen by the Elections Committee set up by the LFA, suggesting that even “Jesus Christ, the Nazarene” would be denied by the ‘stage-managed’ body controlled by Mr. Raji.
Mr. Kuoh, who is widely regarded as Raji’s strongest challenger, was barred from contesting the May 2026 LFA elections by the association’s Electoral Committee. The committee cited provisions in the LFA statutes that prohibit individuals with prior criminal convictions from holding office.
According to the ruling, Mr. Kuoh acknowledged a past conviction during the vetting process, an admission that automatically triggered disqualification under Articles 45.4 and 58.1 of the association’s rules.
The Elections Committee emphasized that the integrity clause is strict and leaves no room for exceptions, even in cases where a candidate has completed their sentence or been rehabilitated.
“Even Jesus Would Be Denied”
Accordingly, in response to this decision in a strongly worded reaction, Mr. Kuoh declared at a news conference held at the FCC Fassell Headquarters in Monrovia that the entire process as fundamentally flawed and overly rigid, arguing that the commission’s interpretation of the rules lacks fairness and human consideration.
He pointed out that even as clean as Jesus, the Nazarene, would fail to pass the commission’s standards, alleging that it was a strict mandate from Mr. Raji to do just that.
“This is not a news; it’s not strange. We all knew ever since how Raji is desperate to remain President and the only way to survive his wish is to go unopposed, because he has done nothing. But to my supporters, let me assure you, that I will be a candidate in these in these elections and I will beat Raji flat.”
The controversy is now shifting toward the courts as Cassell’s lead lawyer, Joseph Yado Howe, vowed to fulfil all available appeal processes before the Committee and then a further action.
Though the next action as announced by Atty. Howe remained unspecified, there are reports indicating that Mr. Kuoh and his legal team are considering further action, potentially seeking judicial intervention to overturn the decision or suspend the electoral process altogether.
The Elections Committee itself acknowledged that any challenge to the legality or constitutionality of the statutes must be decided by the Supreme Court of Liberia.
The situation is further complicated by earlier indications from a lower court that Mr. Kuoh could participate, though that ruling stopped short of invalidating the statutes in question.
With Mr. Kuoh out of the race, President Raji for the third time, is now appears poised to secure another term without opposition, continuing a pattern that has defined LFA elections in recent years.
While other positions within the association remain competitive, the absence of a challenger in the presidential race has raised concerns about transparency, accountability, and the overall health of democratic processes within Liberian football.
The fallout from Mr. Kuoh’s disqualification is likely to extend beyond football. Governance experts warn that the episode highlights broader tensions in Liberia between strict legal frameworks and evolving expectations around fairness, inclusion, and second chances.
