-President Sirleaf issues Dec 26 runoff proclamation
By our Staff Writer
Thousands of Liberian eligible voters, who registered for the October 10, 2017 elections, continue their frantic search on the Final Registration Roll published by the National Elections Commission (NEC) as the December 26 presidential runoff election date draw nearer.
Some of the registered voters, including this reporter, breathe a sigh of relief when they saw their names and photos on the list.
The publication of the FRR is one of the 8-count mandate from the Supreme Court of Liberia in its recent mandate to the NEC ordering it to clean-up and publish the final voter roll at all polling stations and NEC Magistrate offices across the country prior to next Tuesday’s polls.
It is not yet known what the experiences of others are as the search continues, but some registered voters at the Liberia Christian Community College polling center in Gardnersville said they were breathing a sigh of relief at seeing their names and photos on the FFR.
Like www.newspublictrust.com Managing Editor Frank Sainwor, Jr, who saw his name on the list at the 30220 Center in New Georgia, they said their fear of not seeing their names or photos on the voter roll prior to the October 10, 2017 polls, was now laid to rest.
The presidential vote is between incumbent Vice President Joseph Boakai of the ruling Unity Party (UP) and Senator George Weah of the main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC).
The lucky ones who have now seen their names on the FRR then said they were now prepared to exercise their franchise next Tuesday.
This news outlet continues to monitor feedback on the ongoing search for names on the published final voter roll.
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has by Proclamation declared Tuesday, December 26, 2017, Presidential Runoff Elections Day, and it’s to be observed as a National Holiday throughout the country.
The Liberian leader further calls upon all citizens and foreign residents within our borders, to respect this holiday, and has directed that all government offices, business houses, and market places be closed on that day, from six o’clock a.m. to six o’clock p.m, according to an Executive Mansion press release at the weekend.
On Friday, the Supreme Court of Liberia dismissed a Bill of Information filed by Boakai’s UP calling for a stay order on the December 26 runoff.
But the highest court in the country affirmed its opinion of December 7, 2017 that the Stay Order issued on November 6, 2017, growing out of the Writ of Prohibition filed by the Liberty Party (LP) against the NEC was lifted.
President Sirleaf said the proclamation has been issued in pursuant of the Supreme Court’s latest ruling dismissing the UP’s request for a stay order and mandating NEC to go ahead with the December 26 runoff election.
According to the Executive Mansion release, the Government of Liberia is desirous of ensuring the unhindered movement of all eligible voters, granting unto them the opportunity to exercise their political franchise throughout the country on the day of election.
At the same time, the head of Communications at the National Elections Commission Henry Flomo was on Thursday held in contempt by the Supreme Court.
Flomo, who shortly after the Court Ruling mandating NEC to clean-up the FRR said the voter roll was already clean, spent his second night in jail at the Monrovia Central Prison Friday.