As The Total Number Invalid Votes Reaches Over 25,800
By Our Staff Writer
The presidential candidate of the main opposition Unity Party (UP), Joseph Boakai has, as was expected, today, Monday, November 20, 2023 declared winner of the November 14, 2023 presidential runoff election by the National Elections Commission (NEC)).
Boakai and his running mate, Nimba County Senator Jerimiah Koung are poised to take over the leadership of Liberia in January next year.
President-elect Boakai
As he has led incumbent President George Weah of the ruling CDC party since the announcement of the first progressive tally results, the former Liberian finally leads with 50.64% against Weah’s 49.36% of the total valid votes, with 100 percent of the 5, 890 polling places tallied.
Well ahead of Monday’s announcement of the final results by NEC, Boakai’s challenger, President Weah last Friday evening conceded defeat and immediately congratulated the incoming President because his lead was insurmountable at the time.
The decision by the Liberian leader to concede defeat was resisted by some hardliners in his CDC party, who President Weah said were opting to resist the NEC results.
Incumbent President Weah and his running mate, VP Jewel Howard Taylor
NEC Chairperson, Davidetta Browne Lansanah declared Boakai the winner at a news conference at the headquarters of the Commission in Monrovia on Monday.
A large number of invalid votes has been recorded in the presidential runoff election amounting to over 25,800 from a total of 1, 634,186 registered voters in Liberia.
Meanwhile, the NEC boss disclosed that the ruling CDC party has filed a complaint to the Commission concerning a polling place in Nimba County, something she said NEC is investigating.