-NEC strengthens the process, hires more queue controllers
By Frank Sainworla, Jr. fsainworla@yahoo.com
Campaigning for Tuesday’s presidential runoff election ended by mid-night on Saturday, after a peaceful period of canvasing for votes in the two-horse race.
The December 26 election is between incumbent Vice President, Joseph Boakai of the ruling Unity Party (UP) and the main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) of Senator George Weah.
CDC closed their campaign on Saturday with a rally at the main Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Stadium in the Monrovia suburb of Paynesville, while the UP ended theirs on Sunday at the party’s headquarters in the Congo Town suburb of Monrovia.
Tuesday’s polls come nearly a month after the National Elections Commission (NEC) announced the results of the October 10, 2017 elections, which was challenged in court by the ruling Liberty Party (LP) and the UP.
But the Supreme Court of Liberia recently gave the greenlight for the runoff after ordering the NEC to clean-up and published the Final Registration Roll (FRR), among other things prior to the December 26 runoff vote.
The October 10 first round of voting passed off peacefully, but the stalemate in the electoral process generated by the challenge of the results whipped up serious tensions in the country.
So the Liberia National Police (LNP) which is heading the national election security taskforce, is not leaving any stone unturned to ensure that there is law and order before, during and after the December 26 runoff.
National Police Spokesman Sam Collins told www.newspublictrust.com on Sunday that the LNP has already completed deployment at all 280 voting precincts throughout Liberia’s 15 counties.
He said the last area to be deployed was in rural Montserrado County close to the capital, Monrovia.
According to him, per diem for officers deployed has been sorted out, but added that if there is any delay it would be because of the Christmas holiday.
Collins said police officers are being assigned to provide security for the voting process and not election workers to perform the role of queue controllers.
The Police Spokesman called on all Liberians to cooperate with the various security measures being put in place to ensure the protection of lives and property before, during and after the voting.
Supporters of VP Boakai in the UP on Saturday claimed that “powerful government officials” in the Sirleaf administration have given instructions to the CDC to take to the streets a day after the election on Wednesday, December 27 “for pre-victory celebration”.
The United States Embassy in Monrovia warned Americans in Liberia over the weekend of possible violence in the wake of this week’s polls.
“Even events intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence. You should avoid areas of demonstrations and protests and exercise caution if in the vicinity of any large gatherings,” the statement said.
“Monitor media and local information sources regarding election-related developments, and factor updated information into personal travel plans and activities. Avoid crowds and remain alert when using public transportation. Report specific safety concerns to local law enforcement authorities. Stay in touch with your family members and ensure they know how to reach you in the event of an emergency. During elections, restrictions on traffic circulation, either imposed by the authorities or caused by political rallies, can be expected,” the US Embassy advised American citizens.
NEC hires over 1,000 queue controllers
Meanwhile, NEC says it has nearly completed the distribution of voting materials and deployment of poll workers throughout the country.
Lami Lighe, the Executive Director of NEC to the state-owned radio Monday morning that the County deployment to faraway places started at the weekend and will be completed on Christmas Day.
He said the Commission has created sub-storage points in every county.
The NEC official said the electoral body is putting all measures in place to ensure that the voting process goes on smoothly.
He said the quality of poll workers that have been recruited for Tuesday’s runoff has been improved and that more than one thousand additional queue controllers have now been hired by NEC.
The numbers of the various polling places have been printed on large size posters and will be displayed at various polling centers across Liberia.
In addition, Lighe said poll workers will be at the polling centers from midnight on Monday and they will be set and ready to start the process well ahead of the opening of polls.
“The commission wants to assure you of a free, fair and credible process,” the NEC Executive Director said.