Liberia: UP Warns NEC About 'Repeated Errors on Election Results'

The Chairman of the opposition Unity Party (UP) has cautioned Davietta Browne-Lansannah, the head of the National Elections Commission, to diligently review preliminary results ahead of its public release.

"We, as a party, want to remind the NEC that while human errors can occur, please exercise the utmost care in what you publish,” Rev. Luther  Tarpeh, Chairman of the Unity Party said. “Ensure that the records and data on your website are accurate, as Liberians at home and abroad are convinced that this election will shape Liberia's future.”

Tarpeh added that the Unity Party believes that the electoral body chair and her fellow commissioners will act in the best interest of Liberians at home and abroad.

"We urge you to take the necessary steps to cross-check information and data before posting it on your website," he stressed.

The Unity Party's chairman's caution comes as there have been several instances of unchecked results announced by Lansannah during the commission's daily press briefings.

For instance, on October 15th, Emmanuel Dahn, an independent candidate running for Montserrado County Electoral District 7, was initially declared the winner. However, the very next day, there were still ongoing reports from polling places, which raised concerns about prematurely announcing a winner.

When asked by journalists, Lansanah responded, "We will investigate this and provide you with an update tomorrow, please."

Additionally, on October 14, instead of announcing 390 polling places out of 736 in Nimba County, the NEC commissioner announced 309 polling places out of the total 736.

She explained, "Yesterday, a journalist brought to our attention an error in the reading for Nimba County. We reported that there were 309 polling places out of 736, which was incorrect. The accurate number of polling places was 390 out of 736. We appreciate your vigilance; we are all in this together."

These repeated errors have raised concerns, with some questioning whether the Commission is experiencing technical issues. Some commissioners have also faced criticism for not clearly pronouncing candidates' names.

"Indeed, the public has valid reasons to be concerned. Nevertheless, we emphasize that we are all human, and we are committed to correcting any mistakes in our announcements," Lansanah added.

Despite these issues, Tarpeh expressed confidence in the Commission, expecting them to fulfill their constitutional responsibilities for the benefit of Liberians.

"We have no doubt that Madam Davietta Brown-Lansanah and the entire Commission will serve their country diligently and ensure that the Liberian people's votes significantly impact the future of this country. We believe they will do what is right," he stated.

He continued, "Having said that, we must acknowledge that throughout this process, we have faced harassment from the ruling party. Last night, we received information that the CDC almost attempted to enter the tally centers when they were closed. What were they looking for? Do they not respect the will of the Liberian people? To the CDC, we assert that you will not manipulate our future any longer."

He urged fellow party members to remain patient and await the final results from the National Elections Commission.

"While it is vital for the Unity Party to recognize that the National Elections Commission has the constitutional mandate to declare winners, we want to reassure all our supporters that the Unity Party possesses the numbers to win this election," Tarpeh declared.

"What we possess unequivocally indicates that the next President of the Republic of Liberia is Joseph Nyumah Boakai. Stay calm, abide by the law, and remember that the peace of our nation is in our hands as citizens from every corner of this country. Stay calm."