Liberia: ECC Lauds NEC, Voters for Peaceful By-Elections

The Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC) has lauded the National Elections Commission (NEC) for the peaceful and orderly manner in which the by-elections that took place recently in Bong, Nimba, Bomi and Grand Gedeh counties were held.

The group also lauded residents of the counties for conducting themselves appropriately as the voting process went on. The representative by-elections were held in Bomi (District-01), Bong (District-02), Nimba (District-01) and Grand Gedeh (District-01).

ECC Acting Chairperson, Malcolm W. Joseph, described the process as generally peaceful, orderly, and proceeding smoothly, though there were isolated issues of concern at certain polling places, especially in Bong County.

While commending the commission for the timely opening of voting precincts, availability of voting materials as well as safety materials at voting places, the  ECC however calls on the NEC and Joint Security, particularly the Liberia National Police, to promptly investigate incidents that may arise and take appropriate mitigation measures.

“According to our observers, Liberians conducted themselves in an orderly manner and voting took place in a peaceful manner. We therefore want to commend the NEC for being on top of her game, and we also want to thank residents of the four counties for conducting themselves properly,” Joseph said.  

Collating reports from 78 short-term observers at a press conference a fortnight ago, the ECC said its observation focused on all aspects of the procedure including Set-Up and Opening, Voting, Closing and Counting.

“At all 78 of polling places observed, all five NEC staff members were present during the set-up. In 19% of polling places, at least two NEC staff members were women and all sensitive electoral materials were available at all observed polling places at the time of opening,” the acting ECC head disclosed. “Voting generally commenced on time in most of the observed voting precincts and polling places.”

He added that in all of the polling places where the ECC observed, the NEC presiding officers showed that the ballot boxes were empty and the presiding officers sealed each of the ballot boxes with four seals before voting commenced.

“Within their polling place, ECC observers witnessed NEC staff generally following voting procedures,” he said. 

Mr. Joseph added that ECC observers reported that 88% of observed polling places closed between 5:45pm and 6:15 pm. “In 64% of observed polling places, there were still voters in the queue at 6:00pm and they were allowed to vote,” he said.

“In all of the voting precincts where ECC observers were located, there were security personnel in the area ECC observers reported the presence of at least one party agent at 99% of observed polling places during the opening, voting and counting processes.”

ECC noted that the CDC and CPP coalitions and tabulation of results, observers did not record any formal complaints filed by any of the contestants or party agents deployed nearly equal numbers of party agents in observed polling places followed by the Rainbow Alliance and Independent Candidates.

This, the group said, contributed to a level of transparency in the process.

The ECC has however recommended to the NEC that it should cultivate a culture of announcing final and certified results in the districts where the elections take place.  “This will help to build citizens’ trust in the outcome,” Joseph noted.

The group also recommended to political parties and independent candidates to strengthen political reconciliation by ensuring that candidates who did not win should gracefully accept the results and send congratulatory messages to the proclaimed winner.

Meanwhile, the NEC has declared winners of the by-elections. Those declared by NEC are Finda Lansanah of Bomi County, James Kolleh of Bong County, Erol Madison Gwion of Grand Gedeh County and Samuel Browne of Nimba County.