Ahead of the 2011 general and presidential elections, Citizens of Gbannah Chiefdom in Saclepea Mah Statutory District in Nimba County have chosen one of their capable sons to represent them at the national Legislature Gbannah Chiefdom presently falls within Electoral District #6, which comprises Wee, Gbao and Gbor Clans. Hon. Evans Koah is the current representative.

He made his way to the Capitol Building in 2007 following a political vacuum created by the demise of Hon. David S. Maneh. The citizens have constantly accused him of "neglect." It is not yet clear where the Chiefdom will find itself politically when constituency demarcations are made based on the recent controversial Joint ^ Resolution by the National Legislature that dumped the Electoral Threshold Bill.

The decision to choose Mr. Younquoi as a preferential candidate amongst two other aspirants from the district followed series of consultations among citizens residing in the Chiefdom, Ganta and Monrovia.

At an inactive forum on the future of the Chiefdom organized in Monrovia on June 26, 2010 by "Flumpa Kolokia" (Flumpa Union), a decision to bring all political aspirants in the Chiefdom at a roundtable was made and subsequently endorsed by the Gbannah Development Organization (GDO), the Chiefdom's:

development think-tank organization.

GDO immediately sensitized and mandated civil society groups in the Chiefdom (youths, Concern Women, Marketers, Elders and ordinary citizens) for a chiefdom-wide consultative meeting. The meeting held in Walla Town amongst the citizens set the agenda for a major stakeholders meeting which was held August 28, 2010 at "Gbun-Gbannah" a major traditionally recognized conference center in the Chiefdom.

The "Gbun-Gbannah Stakeholders Meeting," one of it kind in 100 years, was attended by over 1,500 persons who took special interest in the process and venue. It was guided by local government officials and void of any political or partisan influence. The three aspirants, Messrs. Larry Younquoi, John Yiligon and Peter Kerbay along with their supporters were in full attendance.

According to Mr. Leelamen D.Y. Zarwolo, President of GDO and one of the key facilitators, the citizens unanimously selected Mr. Larry Younquoi as their "consensus candidate" for the 2011 political race, and appealed to the other two aspirants for their support. He said the decision signifies unity and the citizens' ability and resolve to carve out a common goal.

Welcoming the decision, Mr. Younquoi said it was not a victory for him, but for the citizens and a challenge for all come 2011 poll. He referred to Mr. Yiligon and Mr. Kerbay as the true architects of peace and unity in the Chiefdom.

Meanwhile, cogent information gathered by this Paper indicates that another Monrovia based citizen of the Chiefdom is planning to declare his intention to contest in the district. But political brains in the Chiefdom say the person is trying to waste his own time. When contact by phone, a youth leader in the area soberly reacted, "It is anybody's right to declare his/her intention during elections time, but ! am sure his own household in the chiefdom will not mind him, because he wants to defy his parents."