Nimba Superintendent Under Fire for Allegedly Forcing Officials to Back Korgar’s Senate Run By Desmond Gbeleh Wion

By Desmond Gbeleh Wion

Nimba County – A major political controversy is rocking Nimba County as Superintendent Kou Meapeh Gono is being accused of using her government position to push local officials into backing Representative Samuel Korgar’s bid for the Senate.

Several insiders from within the county administration are alleging that Superintendent Gono told district commissioners and other government employees that they would only receive their salaries and operational funds if they agreed to support Korgar’s campaign—both privately and publicly.

“This is more than politics—it’s intimidation,” said one district superintendent who asked to remain unnamed out of fear for their safety. “They told us straight: if you don’t stand with Hon. Korgar, you could forget about your salary or getting any help for your office.”

According to sources, the Superintendent held secret meetings where officials were told they had to pledge their support to Korgar, or face consequences. One District Commissioner said bluntly: “She called us and told us if we don’t support Samuel Korgar, we won’t get funding for projects in our towns.”

These serious claims have triggered outrage from civil society groups, opposition parties, and political watchers across the county, who say this kind of pressure undermines democracy and creates fear among public servants.

“It’s not right for an appointed official to turn the government into a political machine,” one civil society advocate said. “This is supposed to be a government for the people—not just for a chosen few.”

Despite the allegations, the Superintendent’s office has denied any wrongdoing, calling the claims false and an attempt to damage her reputation. “This is all a smear campaign meant to destroy Superintendent Gono’s good name,” a spokesperson from the county administration told reporters.

Meanwhile, Superintendent Gono has yet to personally address the allegations in public. But what’s clear is that the pressure in Nimba is rising as the county heads into a heated senatorial bye-election set for April 22.

Representative Samuel Korgar—whose name is at the center of the storm—has distanced himself from the accusations. In a short statement from his office, he said: “I do not condone nor support any act of coercion or intimidation in the name of politics. My campaign is based on the will of the people.”

Korgar has already secured the backing of the Nimba County Legislative Caucus and the Traditional Elders of the county, giving him a strong political edge.

But as the race heats up, many in Nimba are now calling on the Ministry of Internal Affairs and other national authorities to step in, investigate the claims, and make sure public servants aren’t being bullied into politics.

“This election needs to be fair,” one community leader said. “We can’t let political pressure replace the people’s will.”