Liberia: Embattled Pleebo Sodoken Rep-Elect accuses Chief Medical Officer

Embattled Maryland County Representative-Elect, Anthony F. Williams, has accused Deputy Minister of Health and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Francis Kateh, of being involved in an ongoing conspiracy to allegedly thwart the results of the October 10 legislative results in Maryland County District #2.

Williams said the Chief Medical Officer is conspiring with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Bhofal Chambers, who is the complainant in the ongoing electoral legal battle in the district, to provide false medical reports to the ongoing hearing at the National Elections Commission (NEC).

Appearing on a talk show on the Voice of Pleebo in Pleebo Sodoken District last week, Williams alleged that Dr. Kateh had contacted the Pleebo Health Center in Maryland to obtain medical reports for Chambers’ supporters who claimed to have been injured during electoral violence.

“Let me say what Dr. Kateh wants to do, we are watching, because we have all the information about how he wants the health workers to give reports and they have refused, so any reports shown during hearing as pieces of evidence for Speaker Chambers are fake and not from Pleebo,” Williams said. “Because I see no reason why he (Dr. Kateh) should be forcing the workers at the Pleebo health center in the county to give reports when the people, during the time of the treatment, said the cases were minor so they can’t provide reports for such.”

“I see this action of Dr. Kateh as bad and has a way of undermining the peace and will of the people of Pleebo Sodoken district,” he added.

These allegations have raised concerns about the integrity of the ongoing hearing. However, it is important to note that the Pleebo Health Center has denied providing any reports, stating that the injuries were minor and did not require documentation.

Williams believes that Dr. Kateh’s actions are undermining the peace and will of the people of Pleebo Sodoken district. He urges Chambers to accept the election results and not conspire to manipulate the system.

This dispute between the candidates has emerged following the October 2023 elections, with both sides making claims of election malpractices in certain polling places. Representative Chambers has filed an official complaint with the NEC, contesting the results in Pleebo Sodoken District.

According to final results announced by the National Elections Commission (NEC) on October 18, Mr. Anthony F. Williams obtained ‌8,105 votes, constituting 45.29%, while Chambers accumulated ‌8,024 votes, constituting 44.84% of the total votes cast. The vote difference between the two is 81, representing 0.45% that is being contested before the NEC in Monrovia.

Representative Chambers claims to have in his possession a voice recording that suggests admission to an organized anti-electoral plot against his re-election.

The alleged admittance was purportedly made by Cece Munah Nimely, a NEC Electoral Supervisor assigned to Pleebo Sodoken District.

Ms. Nimely allegedly exposed the alleged organized anti-electoral cartel against Dr. Bhofal Chambers’ re-election bid in a leaked audio.

But Williams countered the information, describing it as a means to delay the democratic will of the people. He called on Chambers and other government officials to stop and allow the will of the people to prevail.

However, the vote difference between the two candidates is very close, resulting in heightened tensions and allegations of organized efforts to undermine the election. Williams encourages all government officials to respect the will of the people and avoid any actions that might delay the democratic process.