But Recommends That “NEC Treats All Electoral Disputes Equally”
PHOTO: ECC observers that were deployed in Tuesday’s Rep. by-election
SEE FULL TEXT OF ECC’s PRELIMINARY STATEMENT:
PRELIMINARY STATEMENT – August 13, 2025
Released August 14, 2025
“The Citizens of Nimba Commit to Peaceful Democratic Participation in Three Successive By-Elections Following the 2023 General Presidential and Legislative Elections”
Introduction
The Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC) commends the citizens of Nimba County District Number 5 for their peaceful participation in the by-election that was held on August 12, 2025.
The ECC deployed a special observation mission to Nimba to observe the pre-election and election day processes for the representative by-election. This election marks the third by-election to take place in Nimba County since the 2023 general elections and is being held to fill the vacancy created as a result of the election of Hon. Samuel Kogar to the Senate following the recent April 2025 Nimba Senatorial by-election.
The ECC Observation mission found that the election was conducted in a generally calm, peaceful, and orderly manner, and voters turned out gradually following the setup and opening of polls to vote.
This statement is based on observation findings directly observed by the ECC observation mission while roaming the electoral district on election day. The statement includes findings on the setup and opening of polls, the voting process, and the closing and counting at some voting precincts visited by the ECC. The ECC also observed the tabulation/tally of votes at the Sanniquelleh Magisterial Office/tally center through its County Coordinator, who was posted on election day and the day after.
The ECC will remain engaged with post-election processes and offer recommendations as required.
National Election Commission (NEC) Preparations, Materials, and Logistics:
The NEC confirmed all necessary preparations for the conduct of a smooth and credible election days ahead of election day. The ECC later confirmed these assertions by the NEC when the ECC Special Election Observation team, headed by its Board Chair, Malcolm Wleemogar Joseph, was deployed from August 10 to August 12, 2025, in the major border town of Buutuo, Nimba County electoral #5, to observe the final preparations ahead of election day. Upon arrival, the ECC witnessed the deployment and distribution of election materials and polling staff to various voting precincts in the district, including the turnover of election materials to the Zoe-Geh Statutory District Superintendent for safekeeping prior to Election Day.
Election Day Observation and Key Findings
The ECC Observation team deployed to Nimba electoral district 5 observed election day processes in a generally calm and peaceful environment. Voters in the district turned out gradually and voted in an orderly manner, with no crisis with queue management. The atmosphere during the ECC observation remained free of tension, and key stakeholders, including officials from the National Elections Commission (NEC), security forces, political party agents, and international observers, were present and actively engaged. The NEC officials generally followed voting procedures in the discharge of their duty. Additionally, just as in the recent by-elections, the ECC noted the required number of NEC polling officials at voting precincts observed, the timely opening of polls, and the availability of essential/sensitive voting materials.
ECC commends the NEC for its adequate preparation for the conduct of the by-election and the LNP for its presence in providing security.
Arrival at Voting Precincts & Polling Places
- The ECC observation team received its accreditation from the NEC days ahead of the election and was permitted to access and observe at all polling places and voting precincts visited. In total, ECC covered seven (7) of the 21 NEC’s designated voting precincts and 25 of 69 polling places in the electoral district (see chart 001 for a list of precincts and polling places covered by the ECC).
- By 7:45am the ECC observation team was at the first voting precinct, the Buutuo Central High School, having code 33025, which included 3 polling places to observe the setup of polling stations. The precinct had more than one security personnel present during the setup.
Opening
- Voting generally commenced on time at various polling places visited. At the initial voting precinct visited by the ECC, all three polling places opened by 8:00 am, and voters in the other precincts confirmed that the voting started between 8:00 and 8:15 am;
- There were party agents present at all the polling places observed at the opening of polls, and LEON observers were seen in some of these polling places.
Polling Place Set-Up
The ECC observation team witnessed the setup of 3 of 25 polling places observed at the first voting precinct visited. During this time, the team noted the availability of the required sensitive voting materials, including the FRR, ballot papers, indelible ink, the official ballot stamp, and the accounting forms. In addition, an average of five NEC staff were present with two or more women polling officials on each team. Party agents and security personnel were present during the setup of these polling places.
- In all the initial 3 observed polling places, the ballot box was shown to be empty and sealed with four seals before voting began.
- Additionally, all the voting precincts and polling places visited were located in low-level buildings or structures, making them completely accessible to all categories of voters, including the physically challenged, elderly, and voters with visual impairment. Even though the ECC did not visit all 21 voting precincts, the NEC is, however, commended and encouraged to build on this effort by identifying low-level structures to be used as voting precincts during subsequent elections.
Voting Process
Following the observation of the setup and opening of polls of the first voting precinct, the ECC observation team roamed within the district, thereby visiting other voting precincts and polling places to observe the voting process.
At these observed precincts and polling places, ECC witnessed NEC staff generally following voting procedures, and there was no problem with queue control due to the gradual turnout of voters.
- In all polling places and precincts observed, the NEC Voter Identification Officer requested that voters present their voter registration (VR) card for verification before being allowed to vote. Additionally, the ECC team noted the consistent inking of voters’ fingers after voting in all observed places.
- Ballot papers were observed to be stamped before being issued to voters; the NEC polling officials mounted voting screens/curtains that guaranteed the secrecy of the vote at all observed polling places.
- The elderly, physically challenged voters, and pregnant women were seen being given priority to vote.
Security, Party Agents, and Other Observers
The ECC team, upon arrival in Buutuo, confirmed the presence of the Liberia National Police. Additionally, in all 25 observed polling places, party agents were present at the opening of polls to monitor the process. Agents seen generally represented VOLT, LPDP, MDR, NDC, and independent candidates. ECC commends parties and candidates for the regular deployment of agents to monitor the voting and counting processes. Other observer groups, both national and international, and media representatives were also seen observing the process.
Closing and Counting Process
The ECC deployed a single observation team comprising seven representatives, including two board members, three secretariat volunteers, and two field coordinators/supervisors. Since the ECC deployed a single observation team in the district and could not train nor deploy its usual community observers due to lack of funding support, only the electoral district supervisor was assigned to a single voting precinct at the end of the day to observe the closing and counting.
The ECC electoral district supervisor was posted at the Beeplay Public School, having precinct code 33009, which consisted of five polling places. According to the supervisor’s report, the counting process generally went on peacefully, with NEC officials adhering to counting procedures. He also reported that party agents and security officers were present during the count, including a UNDP observer and a correspondent from the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS). The supervisor further noted that all party agents approved the results and no complaint was filed about the counting process.
Due to the gradual turnout of voters, there was no one in the queue at 6:00pm, resulting in the close of the five polling places at 6:00pm. The ECC observation team noted the availability of solar lamps during the day at various precincts and polling places visited, making way for sufficient lighting during the counting. The NEC staff also informed that all voting materials would immediately be transported to the NEC Magisterial Office for the tabulation of results and storage of materials.
Critical Incidents
During its observation, the ECC team did not observe any sign or incident of tension, violence, or disruption at all voting precincts and polling places visited during the day. However, the ECC electoral district supervisors posted at the Beeplay Public School reported late in the evening of an incident that occurred in Nyor Gormahplay Town, the hometown of the late Senator Prince Y. Johnson, when a man was arrested due to his attempt to vote at one of the precincts while illegally carrying a firearm. Since the ECC district supervisor was miles away from the site of the incident, the ECC cannot provide sufficient details, but information received states that the man was immediately arrested and detained at the Bahn Police Station within the district for further investigation.
Tally of Results
The ECC deployed its county coordinator at the Sanniquelleh magisterial office to observe the tabulation of the results. According to the ECC Coordinator, there were media representatives and other observers present, including a LEON observer, during the tally process. The ECC coordinator reported a smooth process, with NEC announcing the winner of the representative by-election at the end. NEC declared candidate Kwagrue, Kortor Sehwongbay of the Movement of Democracy for Reconstruction (MDR), the winner of the 2025 Nimba Electoral District 5 Representative by-election following the tabulation of the results during an official press briefing at the magisterial office[1].
The ECC will continue to follow post-election engagement geared toward electoral reform.
Recommendations
Based on its observations and findings, the ECC makes the following recommendations:
- The National Elections Commission (NEC) is encouraged to treat all electoral disputes equally, if any, and adjudicate them in a timely and transparent manner.
- If any political party or independent candidate has grievances on the outcome of the results, they must follow the due process of law and refrain from inciting their supporters to violence.
About ECC
The Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC) is Liberia’s largest domestic election observation network with diverse competencies, experiences, and expertise in democracy, elections, and governance, established since 2010. ECC’s members include the Center for Democratic Governance (CDG); Center for Media Studies and Peace Building (CEMESP); Center for Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding (CECPAP); Institute for Research and Democratic Development (IREDD); Naymote Partners for Democratic Development (NAYMOTE-PADD); West Africa Network for Peace Building (WANEP); and the Women NGO Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL).
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Appendix: Chart 001—List of Voting Precincts and Polling Places Covered by the ECC
| No. | Voting Precinct Code | Precinct Name
|
No. of Polling Places |
| 1. |
33025 |
Buutuo Central High School | 3 |
| 2. |
33261 |
Buehlay Old Town Public School | 2 |
| 3. |
33046 |
Gbanwea Public School | 3 |
| 4. |
33209 |
Gbluolay Public School | 4 |
| 5. |
33083 |
Gruzianplay Public School | 4 |
|
6. |
33009 |
Beeplay Public School | 5 |
|
7. |
33007 |
Beadatuo Public School | 4 |
|
Total Precincts & Polling Places Observed |
7 Voting Precincts | 25 | |
[1] www.necliberia.org | necliberia@facebook