By Evelyn Kpadeh Seagbeh

MONROVIA, Liberia

Three opposition parties in Liberia signed a deal late Wednesday to unseat President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s ruling Unity Party in 2017 elections.

Former President Charles Taylor’s National Patriotic Party (NPP), the Congress for Democratic Change of former football star George Weah and the Liberia People Democratic Party (LPDP) agreed to collaborate and field presidential and vice presidential candidates.

Opposition parties have previously struggled to form a viable coalition due to a lack of agreement by their various leaders over who should head the anti-government effort.

However, after much negotiating, George Weah emerged as head of the coalition. Weah will then nominate a running mate.

In remarks at the signing ceremony in the capital Monrovia on Wednesday, ousted parliamentary Speaker, Alex Tyler of the LPDP, said:

“The country has, over the years, been mortgaged and now it is time for us to take over and bring about that visionary leadership.”