“. . . the constitution provides that after the initial arrangement, every senator goes for nine years. When the term of the junior senator expired, the issue of senior and junior became mute,” –Sen. Kogar.
The deepening leadership feud between Senator Samuel G. Kogar and Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung, has turned into an archrival affair for the county.
The latest of such comes ahead of this year’s County Sports Meet and the political elections of 2029.
A fortnight ago, VP Koung declared Senator Nya Twayen a Senior Senator for Nimba, instead of Kogar.
Shortly following Koung’s declaration of Twayen as the ‘senior,’ Kogar on Thursday, December 4, 2025, reproved the Vice President for the nomenclature.
Kogar sharply responded to ongoing political debate over who holds the title of ‘senior and junior’ senator of the county.
He declared that the argument was “constitutionally overlooked and so it has remained mute,” and driven by misunderstanding rather than law.
Kogar spoke to legislative reporters when he cited Articles 45 and 46 of the 1986 Constitution.
He added: “Claims about seniority in the county’s senate representation have no legal basis given current circumstances.”
He claimed that Article 46 originally structured the Senate so that, after the 2005 elections, Prince Y. Johnson (deceased) became Nimba’s senior senator, while Adolphus Dolo, became the junior senator.
“Their terms would determine seniority only once, but this arrangement no longer applies.
“The constitution provides that after the initial arrangement, every senator goes for nine years. When the term of the junior senator expired, the issue of senior and junior became mute.”
Sen. Kogar said the Constitution gives no new seniority ranking in subsequent elections, including by-elections.
He referenced Article 45, clarifying how replacement senators should serve:
“Article 45 says when there is death, expulsion, resignation or otherwise, the person elected in a by-election serves the remaining term of the seat under review.”
Kogar argued that this provision is exactly what placed Twayen in the “remaining term” seat previously held by Jeremiah Koung, who became Vice President.
Likewise, following the death of Sen. Johnson, a by-election was constitutionally required; a process through which Kogar won.
“For this reason, me and Sen. Twayen, are currently completing the leftover terms of our predecessors. The two of us have equal voting power, so I should have been referred to as senior, not Twayen. There is no discrimination in votes. Both of us are completing the remaining nine-year terms of those two senators.”
Kogar said: “Automatically, the issue of senior and junior is mute.”
His remarks come amid political chatters, and attempts by ‘some actors’ to assign seniority for influence within the county’s political structure.
Kogar insists that the Constitution, not public debate, settles the matter.
Source: Varity News, December 8th edition.
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