By: Gegee Brima
Capitol Hill, Liberia — Five university chapters of the Cape Mount University Students Union (CAMUSU) have declared the mandate of National President Lawrence Gray forfeited and announced the appointment of an interim leadership, citing alleged constitutional violations and disagreements over the conduct of national elections.
The decision is contained in a joint resolution dated November 6, 2026, and signed by representatives of the African Methodist Episcopal University, Stella Maris Polytechnic University, Cuttington University, African Methodist Episcopal Zion University, and United Methodist University chapters.
The five chapters said their action was taken under Article IV, Section 3 of CAMUSU’s 2006 Constitution, which they cited as the basis for exercising authority in the current situation.
According to the resolution, Gray’s administration received a conditional mandate through an agreement reached on September 5, 2025, which required the holding of national elections in May 2026.
However, the signatories accused the president of failing to honor the agreement, alleging that he established an Independent Electoral Commission without the required constitutional consensus, interfered with its operations, and subsequently cancelled an election reportedly scheduled for November 6, 2026, at the True Whig Party headquarters.
The allegations and the five chapters’ interpretation of the union’s constitution have not been independently verified. The resolution also does not contain a response from Gray, and it remains unclear whether he accepts the decision or intends to challenge it.
Invoking Article I of the resolution, the five chapters announced that Gray and his administration no longer have the authority to represent the union. They also cautioned the public against recognizing or conducting official engagements with individuals acting under his leadership.
Interim Leadership Appointed
As part of the resolution, the chapters named a seven-member interim leadership team to oversee the affairs of the union.
The appointed officials are:
- President: Jamiyah Foday Lumeh (AMEU)
- Vice President: A. Morris Karselu (UMU)
- Secretary: Edwin Momodu Golafale (University of Liberia)
- Assistant Secretary: Aliey Kamara (AMEZU)
- Financial Secretary: Sheikh Oumaru Ware (University of Liberia)
- Treasurer: Mariama K. Bafalie (UMU)
- Chaplain: Prince S. Bono (University of Liberia)
The resolution assigns the interim administration a two-year tenure, with responsibilities that include stabilizing the union, restoring the independence of the electoral commission, and organizing national elections.
However, the document does not provide a detailed explanation for the two-year term, particularly in relation to the election timetable outlined in the same resolution.
Demand for Handover of Union Assets
The five chapters are also demanding the transfer of CAMUSU’s financial resources, bank accounts, digital platforms, student records, official documents, correspondence, and other institutional property from the outgoing administration to the newly appointed leadership.
Outgoing officials have been directed to surrender all union-owned assets and refrain from establishing parallel leadership structures or factional administrations.
The signatories maintain that their decision represents a collective action by the five university chapters rather than a resolution adopted by the national executive of CAMUSU.
Despite this distinction, they describe the resolution as final and immediately effective.
Questions Surround Resolution
Several issues contained in the document could raise questions about the implementation of the decision and the legitimacy of the proposed interim administration.
One inconsistency concerns the date of the planned induction ceremony. While the resolution refers to the eighteenth day of November, it separately lists November 21, 2026, as the ceremony date.
Additionally, three of the seven officials named to the interim leadership are identified as representatives of the University of Liberia, although that institution is not listed among the five chapters that signed the resolution. The document does not explain the basis for their selection or appointment.
Copies of the resolution were reportedly addressed to community leaders, legislative representatives, local government officials, and members of traditional elder councils in Cape Mount.
The unfolding dispute places CAMUSU’s leadership and electoral arrangements under scrutiny, with further clarification from the outgoing administration and the union’s relevant constitutional bodies likely to be important in determining the status of the competing leadership claims.
