-They want polls litigation fast track
By Kaipee Luther Newray
As the dispute over the October 10, 2017 election results in Liberia, international concerns are being raised by the African Union, ECOWAS and the UN Mission (UNMIL) over significant delay in bringing closure to ongoing litigation.
In a joint statement issued in Monrovia at the weekend, the AU Liason office, ECOWAS mission in Liberia and UNMIL said the delay in concluding legal challenges has the propensity to thwart the completion of the election process before the constitutionally-mandated transition date in January 2018.
They reiterated calls asking all parties and stakeholders to exercise restraint uphold the rule of law and conduct all activities with civility and in a non-violent manner, including their public discourses.
AU, ECOWAS and UNMIL emphasized that the conduct of peaceful, free, fair and transparent elections is a prerequisite for democratic consolidation, sustainable peace and development in Liberia.
Early this week, the Supreme Court of Liberia put a freeze on the schedule November 7 presidential runoff elections between the two candidates with the highest votes in the first round—the main opposition leader George Weah of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) and current Vice President Joseph Boakai of the ruling Unity Party (UP).
Liberian law requires that winner in the first round must have an absolute majority of 50% plus one vote, which none of the 20 presidential candidate could get.
The highest court in the country ruled that the runoff could not take place until the National Elections Commission (NEC) fully investigates claims of massive fraud and irregularities filed by the Liberty Party (LP) of Charles Brumskine, who came fourth in the October 10 first round.
LP’s legal challenged had been subsequently backed by Boakai’s ruling UP and two other parties in the race.
The ongoing electoral stalemate has since begun to heighten tensions in the post-war nation with threats from various sides and fear of an outbreak of election violence..
A few days ago, the head of Liberia’s Traditional Council, Chief Zanzan Kawa says has announced that a mediation effort will be launched shortly among Liberian political actors.
Chief Kawah said the Traditional Council and the Inter-Religious Council have resolved to begin mediation to bring to an end the current political crisis in the Country.
The leader of the Traditional Council warned that “Liberia is shaking” and that unless an urgent intervention is made, the outbreak of a violent crisis is imminent.
Outgoing President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has herself spoken of “uncertainty” in in the ongoing electoral and transitional process, but commended her citizens for their “patience and peaceful demeanor” so far.
But she was not pleased with the level of tact that her fellow politicians have shown in the current stalemate.
“We politicians must do better; Our people went the distance; We achieved 73 percent voters’ turnout demonstrating confidence in our electoral process and the future of our country,” the Liberian leader said in a broadcast address to the nation this week.
“We have had some situations that resemble delay, but these delays are not from the Elections Commission; they are consistent with due process rights being asserted by parties that appear before the hearing officer,” Sirleaf said.
For his part, the NEC Chairman Jerome Korkoya told a news conference recently, that some politicians were fabricating stories of fraud and massive irregularities in the October 10 polls.
“We have had some situations that resemble delay, but these delays are not from the Elections Commission; they are consistent with due process rights being asserted by parties that appear before the hearing officer,” Chairman Korkoya said.
At the same time, a local cleric says he disagrees with people, who are asking Cllr. Charles Brumskine and other aggrieved political parties to abandon their quest for justice.
Cllr. Brumskine is being criticized in some quarters for challenging the outcome of the recently held elections.