Thousands Hit The Streets In “Victory” Celebrations
US Says It Remains Committed To Supporting Liberians’ Aspiration
PHOTO: UP presidential candidate Joseph Boakai
By Our Staff Writer
The National Elections Commission (NEC) has not declared a winner of the November 14, 2023 presidential runoff elections, but this evening (Friday, November 17, 2023) announced the results for 95.% of the total valid votes cast, putting the main opposition Unity Party (UP) presidential candidate, Joseph Boakai in the lead with over 50 percent of the votes.
But Weah’s ruling CDC is also claiming to be ahead and some of its officials have said victory is theirs.
Addressing a news conference at the NEC headquarters, the Chairperson of the Commission, Davidetta Browne Lansanah said incumbent President George eah of the CDC is trailing with over 49 percent of the votes.
In the first round of the presidential election on October 10, 2023 neither Weah nor Boakai reached the constitutionally required threshold to win outright as absolute majority is required. Therefore, NEC on Tuesday, October 24, 2023 declared that none of the two top presidential candidates was able to get the 50% plus one vote constitutionally required to win the first round of the October 10 election. This is the requirement of Liberia’s 1986 Constitution.
With the tiny percentage of votes yet to be tallied, the 79-year-old former Liberian Vice President may likely emerge as the country’s next President in January next year, some six years after he was defeated by Weah in a similar presidential runoff election in 2017. One political analyst in Monrovia told www.newspublictrust.com,“look, Joe Boakai has all but won this November 14 presidential runoff election.”
NEC is expected to later declare the final winner, as a rerun is expected to be held at one polling center in Nimba County, while a number of polling places in Weah’s home county Grand Kru have been quarantined due to some reported election irregularities.
US Says It Remains Committed To Supporting Liberians’ Aspiration