Claim: Edward Appleton’s deal is done.
Source: Unity Party Social media group General)
Verdict: False, The standard bearer of the Grassroot Development Movement has not signed a deal with any of the two parties in the run-off.
Full text: Edward Wade Appleton has become a household name in Liberian body politics after his surprising third-place winner position in the just-ended October 10, 2023 polls.
Appleton received 40,271 votes, or 2.20% of the total votes cast, ahead of Lisinee F. Kamara Sr., the well-known Coalition of Political Parties, Alexander B. Cummings, and renowned lawyer Cllr. Tiawon Gongloe of the Liberia People’s Party.
The Grassroots Development Movement (GDM), the party ticket Appleton Jr. contested, was founded in 2011 with its first presidential candidate, Gladys Beyan. Appleton is the second candidate vying for the party’s ticket for Liberia’s presidency.
Since his name was made public, Appleton has been drawn to the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) and the opposition Unity Party (UP).
Both the CDC and the UP claim to have won Mr. Appleton over to their side.
Verification: The post on social media platforms caught the attention of Appleton, and he responded to it in this way.
At Tuesday’s press conference, he said, “They say we have endorsed a candidate, which is not true.”
He has appeared on social media with UP Boakai and also with the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, J. Fonati Koffa of the CDC.
Conclusion: It is fair to say that Appleton has not endorsed either the CDC or UP, although he has met UP standard-bearer Boakai and deputy house speaker and Grand Kru representative Fonati Koffa of the CDC.
