By Alfred Kollie, alfredkolliejr92@gmail.com
The Liberia Elections Observation Network or LEON has commended the National Election Commission for sending in experienced staff to run the delayed elections, which has built confidence, despite the existing tensions.
LEON, launched in May 2017 is a platform of four Liberian Civil Society Organizations including the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (JPC), Liberia Crusaders for Peace (LCP), Federation of Liberia Youth (FLY) and National Union of Organizations for the Disabled (NUOD) with the goal to meaningfully contribute to democratization processes in Liberia.
This local elections observation group however noted that despite the low turnout, it was also pleased with a strong security presence which allowed for a peaceful election.
According to the group, 20% indicates that voters were deterred by previous violence or threats on the day from exercising their democratic right to vote.
In a release issue Friday January 8,2021 in Monrovia, LEON said it has a team of five senior observers in Nomdatanau who were observing in all four polling places and meeting with all local and national stakeholders in the area.
The Special Senatorial elections and referendum were organized for 7 January 2021 after allegations of fraud, theft of election materials and violence derailed the vote on 8 and 15 December.
Tensions were high since just 449 votes that separated the two leading candidates, Botoe Kanneh (Independent) and Alfred Gayflor Koiwood of the ruling CDC.
The NEC held a meeting between the candidates on December 30th to determine a way forward.
Although Koiwood agreed to the holding of the election at the time he filed a writ of prohibition with the NEC to further delay the elections on grounds that the NEC had not fully investigated the previous complaints of election fraud.
The writ was rejected by the NEC on 6 January, the eve of the election, on the basis that it was not filed in the required time.
LEON in a release noted that the polls opened on time in all four polling places with the full number of election staff, who were all experienced staff brought in from outside the county so as to ensure neutrality.
“There was an extremely high level of observation with LEON, ECC, Women’s CSO network including the African Women Leaders Network all present and a situation room was established by The Peacebuilding Office, Ministry of Internal Administration, NCCRM and others,” the release quotes LEON as saying.
According observers, there was a large security presence around the town and this has helped establish trust and transparency.
However, tensions continued throughout the day over voter eligibility but dialogue forums continued in the town on 6th and again on 7th, under the auspices of the Peace Building Office and the Election Magistrate from Lofa, explaining to the townspeople that everyone with a valid voter card would be allowed to vote.
It has been a major issue in the town that people customarily cross the border with Sierra Leone to register and to vote and the candidates are accusing each other of trucking without regard as to whether these people are Liberian, and entitled to register, or not.
” We noted a few people coming to vote from the surrounding villages but the border crossing was quiet. People with replacement voter cards were also initially denied to vote, since their replacement status was not marked on the Final Registration Roll (FRR). The Magistrate informed NEC HQ who determined that these people should be allowed to vote”.
In the afternoon 50 people were stopped from entering the town because they were not believed to be Liberian by local youth, calling themselves the civil militia. The Liberian Immigration Service and the Situation Room intervened, with the result that the town Chief agreed to identify citizens from non- citizens.
Although this allowed dozens of people with valid voter cards to vote the decision went contrary to the previous ruling that everyone with a valid voter card should be allowed to vote.
Counting was conducted efficiently and accurately. In total 217 votes were cast for Alfred Koiwood and 188 for Botoe Kanneh. Since Ms Kanneh was ahead by 449 votes in the county this figure ensures that she remains in the lead for the senate seat, pending complaints procedures.
Only a small number of votes were cast for other candidates in the town indicating that only around 20% of the registered voters turned out, giving some credence to the earlier rumours of voter suppression.
Methodology
LEON has been observing and monitoring the elections campaign around the country since July with one Long Term Observers (LTOs) stationed in each county. They have been reported on local issues, election preparations and observing the voter registration update and the campaign.
LEON has issued reports on the voter registration update, two pre election reports, two social media monitoring reports and four election and tallying statements so far, based on observer findings.
“LEON will continue to observe voting and counting in Gbarpulo and Grand Kru and is following all the complaints hearings and tallying of results”.