Opposition Parties And Independent Have Secured About Half Of The 15 Sen. Seats Being Contested
By Frank Sainworla, Jr. fsainworla@yahoo.com
The only woman Senator in Liberia’s 30-member member, Nyonblee Karngar Lawrence of Grand Bassa County has retained her seat, according to latest results released by the National Election (NEC).
With 100% of the votes tallied, Sen. Karnga Lawrence of the opposition CPP won 22,476 votes, amounting to 42.01%, defeating former Senator and Foreign Minister, Gbehzongar Findley and several other rivals.
Findley came second to her with 20,346 votes, amounting to 38.03%
The second female in this race, Madalene Harris came fourth with 1,365 votes, amounting to 2.55%.
In one of the vote-rich counties, Nimba, the only female candidate Edith Gongloe-Weh of the CPP is ahead with 23,840 votes, amounting to 35.3%.
Candidate Edith Gongloe Weh
Following closely behind her is incumbent Representative Jeremiah Koung of the MDR, who was endorsed by President George Weah’s CDC, has 22,153 votes, amounting to 32.8%.
Results from NEC over the weekend show that 65.72% of polling places have so far been tallied.
In the December 8 election, there were just 20 female candidates fielded against 98 male candidates to fill 15 of the thirty Senate seats and two vacant seats in Montserrado and Sinoe Counties.
Many of the female candidates are running as independent, as political parties have largely decided to ignore a gender equity legislation urging parties include at least 30% of either gender on their list of candidates.
Some 2.476 million registered voters are expected to on Tuesday, December 8 troop to 5, 911 polling places across this country, according to the National Elections Commission (NEC).
The ruling CDC Party of President George Weah, who claimed to be “Feminist-In-Chier,” is fielding an all-male slate of candidates, a large number of them incumbent Representatives in the House, who are yet to even complete half of their six-year-term they were elected for during the 2017 elections. And if they win, millions of US dollars will be needed to fund By-elections.
Even the opposition CPP and other opposition parties are fielding less than a hand-full of female candidates, even though the 30-member only has one female incumbent candidate, Yongblee Karnga Lawrence of Grand Bassa County.
Other CDC losses, two pending By-elections so far
In Montserrado County, incumbent Senator Darius Dillon is likely to emerge winner, as he is in a comfortable lead, after 89.26% of the votes have already been tallied.
NEC’s results announced by its Chair, Davidetta Browne Lansanah over the weekend puts Sen. Dillon on top with 182,763 votes, amounting to 61.38%.
Trailing behind him is the ruling CDC candidate, incumbent Representative Thomas Fallah, who has 106,354 votes, amounting to 35.72%. He is followed by the owner of the Hott Fm radio, “DJ Blue”, Bernard Benson with 3, 728 votes, amounting to 1.25%.
Madam Jamima Wolokolie, the female politician who bitterly broke ranks with the CDC but summersaulted and returned to the CDC in the dying moments of the December 8 Special Senatorial election campaign, was able to garner 105 votes, amounting to 0.04%.
With 99.42% of polling places tallied, James Barney of the ruling CDC, who won 9, 614 amounting to 39.44% has emerged as winner of the Maryland County Senatorial race. He is being followed by incumbent Senator Dan Morias, who got 5, 085 amounting to 20.86%.
The ruling CDC party is losing the Senate seat in Lofa County to the opposition and former Liberian Defense Minister in the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s government, Brownie Samukai.
Mr. Samukai of the opposition CPP topped the vote in Lofa County with 17, 377 votes, amounting to 30.01%.
Coming second is Joseph Kpato Jallah with 13,805 votes, amounting to 23.84%, after 413 of the 454 polling places tallied—90.97%.
River Gee County has all but gone to the opposition.
The ruling CDC has also lost Bong and Bomi Counties, with Deputy House Speaker Prince Moye carrying the day. While in Bomi County, incumbent Representative Edwin Melvin Snowe has topped the race, thus creating two Representative vacancies in the 55th Legislature.
According to the Liberian constitution, when a vacancy is announced, By-election must take place within a period of 90 days.
