By our Staff Writer
Liberia’s Supreme Court has put a stay order on the scheduled November 7 runoff presidential election between the main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) and incumbent Vice President Joseph Boakai of the ruling Unity Party (UP), as heavily armed police beef up security around the capital, Monrovia and other parts of the country.
By dawn, the Liberia National Police (LNP) elite Emergency Response Unit (ERU) had taken up positions on the compound of the Temple of Justice, seat of the Supreme Court and the headquarters of the National Elections Commission (NEC) at in other areas.
The stay order is to allow legal arguments into complaint from Charles Burmskine’s Liberty Party (LP) claiming that the October 10 first round election was marred by alleged massive fraud.
“you are commanded to instruct the Respondents to stay any and all actions in respect to the pending run-off Election scheduled for November 7, 2017, pending the disposition by the Supreme Court of the Petitioners Petition.
“You will further inform the parties that given the constitutional issues raised in the petition, coupled with the fact that election matters are to be expeditiously heard and determined, that upon service of this Writ and Returns thereto, the case is hereby docketed for the urgent disposition by the Bench en banc.”
Brumskine came third in the first round.
LP had petitioned the highest court in the country to issue a writ of probation on the pending November 7 runoff and the court has placed a temporary halt to the runoff election process to enable lawyers of the National Elections Commission (NEC) to counter the LP’s claims of massive fraud and irregularities in the first round.
LP’s move to challenge the first round election results and call for a rerun of the polls has been backed by the ruling UP and Benoni Urey’s All Liberian Party (ALP).
SEE BELOW PRESS RELEASE LATER ISSUED BY THE SUPREME COURT:
NOVEMBER 1, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PETITION FOR WRIT OF PROHIBITION VENUED BEFORE FULL BENCH
The Justice presiding in Chambers of the Honorable Supreme Court of Liberia, Mr. Justice Kabineh M. Ja’neh, has COMMANDED the Marshall of this Court to notify The National Elections Commission (NEC) and Members of the Board of Commissioners of the said Body, RESPONDENTS in the entitled cause of action, Charles Walker Brumskin, Harrison S. Karnwea, Presidential & Vice-Presidential Candidates, and all Representative Candidates of Liberty Party, and Liberty Party VERSUS The National Elections Commission (NEC), and The Board of Commissioners: PETITION FOR WRIT OF PROHIBITION, that they are to appear before the FULL BENCH of the Honorable Supreme Court on Thursday November 2, 2017 at the hour of 9:00 am, to show cause why the PETITIONERS’ PETITION as prayed for should not be granted:
The Chambers Justice has also instructed the Respondents, NEC and its Board of Commissioners to stay any and all actions in respect of the pending Run-OFF elections scheduled for November 7, 2017, pending the disposition by the Supreme Court of the Petitioners’ Petition.
Giving the constitutional issues raised in the petition, coupled with the fact that elections matters are to be expeditiously heard and determined, upon service of the Writ and Filing of Returns to the Writ, the case shall immediately be transferred and docketed on the Supreme Court’s docket for the urgent disposition by the FULL BENCH.
It is important to note that this Alternative Writ issued to stay any and all actions in respect of the pending Run-OFF Elections is not a final STAY ORDER by the Supreme Court. This is only until the FULL BENCH can hear and dispose of the matter from which a final decision will be made by the BENCH.
It is also important to note that this Alternative Writ is also not an ANNULMENT of the Presidential and Representatives Elections held on October 10, 2017, as NO such ELECTION MATTER has come before the Honorable Supreme Court of Liberia for determination.
THANK YOU!
Signed: _
Darryl Ambrose Nmah, Sr.
Director
Judicial Public Information