The Leadership of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) in consultation with its Executive Committee and the 2022 Elective Congress Committee has postponed this year’s Congress.

The PUL in a release said that the Congress initially scheduled for Nov 10-Nov 12 in line with the Union’s Constitution, will now be held from Thursday, Nov 17 to Saturday, Nov 19 in Gbarnga, Bong County.

The decision according to the release was reached after the Liberian Government announced that this year’s National Population and Housing Census will kick off on Friday, Nov 10, which falls on the second day of the PUL Congress.

“The decision, which was also reached in consultation with the candidates in the pending election, is intended to allow members of the Union across the country as well as invited personalities stay in their localities and be counted,” the PUL leadership in the release.

The leadership’s decision followed a proclamation by President George Weah declaring Friday, November 11 as “National Census Day” to be observed throughout the Republic as a National Holiday.

This year’s congress will also include the election of a new leadership to steer the union. While the current president, Charles Coffey will not be contesting because of the two-term limit as required by the union’s constitution, incumbent Vice President, Daniel Nyakonah will contest for the presidency of the PUL.

Nyakonah, a long-term member of the PUL leadership as Assistant Secretary, Secretary General and Vice President will face Julius Kanubah, who also briefly served the union as Secretary General.

Multiple awards winning journalist, Bettie Johnson-Mbayo, and Beatrice Sieh, former of manager Radio Bushrod contesting for the vice president position, while current Assistant Secretary, Akoi Baysah and Julius Konton are vying for the Secretary and Assistant Secretary positions on white ballot, respectively.

The candidates have continued to engage members of the media, canvasing for support and votes.