By Our Staff Writer
As campaign was declared officially opened in the December 8 Special Senatorial election, the National Elections Commission (NEC) announced that 118 candidates will be competing for the 15 vacant senatorial seats in the December 8 polls.
Fourteen of those competing are incumbent Senators who are not yet prepared to quit the post some of them have been occupying for not less than the past nine years in Liberia’s 15 Counties.
Although political parties and candidates had already been practically engaging in campaign activities and rallying votes in the past weeks, with the Supreme Courts lifting of the Stay Order and NEC’s declaration, they are going all out to canvass for votes in just three weeks remaining to the tension packed races.
On Wednesday, November 18, 2020, the Supreme Court lifted a stay order on the proceeding of the electoral process, but put a hold on the pending National Referendum slated for the same date.
The Court said it was not lawful to hold the referendum at this time, because it would be violating the Liberian constitution which calls for one full year of civic education of voters on the issues they are to vote on, citing Articles 91 and 92.
Chief Justice Korkpor
The ruling of the Supreme Court came as a result of a law suit filed by the opposition Collaborating Political Parties (CPP).
Article 91
“This Constitution may be amended whenever a proposal by either (1) two-thirds of the membership of both Houses of the Legislature or (2) a petition submitted to the Legislature, by not fewer than 10,000 citizens which receives the concurrence of two-thirds of the membership of both Houses of the Legislature, is ratified by two-thirds of the registered voters, voting in a referendum conducted by the Elections Commission not sooner than one year after the action of the Legislature.”
Article 92
“Proposed constitutional amendments shall be accompanied by statements setting forth the reasons therefor and shall be published in the Official Gazette and made known to the people through the information services of the Republic. If more than one proposed amendment is to be voted upon in a referendum they shall be submitted in such manner that the people may vote for or against them separately.”
Also on December 8, two By-elections are scheduled to be held for vacant seats in Montserrado County District # 9 and District #2 in Liberia’s southeastern Sinoe County, where, where a total of 16 candidates will be vying to success the late Representative Munah Pelhem Youngblood and J. Nagbe Sloh who both died earlier this year.
NEC Chair Brown Lansanah
Advising candidates not to provoke election violence at a press conference on Wednesday, NEC’s Chair, Davidetta Browne Lansanah warned that the Commission will not allow two campaign rallies the same day, calling for mutual and avoiding of inciting speeches.