Release Preliminary Findings
Overall, the polling process was peaceful with two notable instances of incidents reported. There was an adequate deployment of security officers throughout all electoral districts of Nimba, in addition to party agents and other observers deployed to observe the process.
PRELIMINARY STATEMENT by the Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC), Liberia Election Observation Network (LEON), and West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP-Liberia)
2025 Nimba Senatorial By-election Observation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 23, 2025
“ECC, LEON and WANEP COMMEND THE PEACEFUL PARTICIPATION OF VOTERS IN THE JUST CONCLUDED SENATORIAL BY-ELECTION IN NIMBA COUNTY- NOTE THE SLOW PACE AT WHICH VOTERS TURNED OUT TO VOTE”
Introduction
ECC, LEON, and WANEP commend the government and people of Liberia for the generally peaceful Nimba County senatorial by-election of 22 April 2025, urging all citizens to remain calm and await the official announcement of the results by the National Elections Commission (NEC). The ECC, LEON and WANEP also commend the NEC for the timely distribution of election materials and the adequate deployment of polling staff. Nonetheless, the three domestic observation groups noted the slow pace at which voters turned out to vote despite the anticipation of an enthusiastic election.
This preliminary statement is based on reports that the ECC, LEON and WANEP received from all 88 short-term observers deployed across all electoral districts in the county. The statement includes findings on the setup and opening of polls, voting process, closing and counting at polling places. This statement is delivered while the tallying of votes is ongoing. Therefore, the statement includes findings up to date. A final comprehensive report, including a full analysis and recommendations about the Nimba County 2025 Senatorial by-election will later be published and shared with partners.
Key Findings
Overall, the polling process was peaceful with two notable instances of incidents reported. Generally, observers reported that voting commenced on time, having all essential voting materials available. There was an adequate deployment of security officers throughout all electoral districts of Nimba, in addition to party agents and other observers deployed to observe the process.
Campaign:
The official campaign period commenced on 31 March 2025 and ended on 19 April 2025. The NEC was in charge of the campaign schedules of political parties and candidates in efforts to avoid violent clashes between supporters. ECC, LEON and WANEP had the privilege of observing the signing of the Farmington Declaration on April 15, 2025 by the candidates. The declaration provided a framework to hold all political parties and independent candidates accountable for maintaining peace. The three groups observed that overall, the campaign period was largely peaceful with reports of isolated incidents of election-related intimidation and violence. Campaign messages often revolved around the candidates’ personalities and ethnicity, with an emphasis on these aspects rather than issue-based politics.
Arrival and opening of Polling Places
Arrival reports indicate that all observers were permitted to access and observe at their assigned polling places. Observers generally reported that voting commenced on time. At 8:00 am, observers reported that nearly all polling places had opened for voting and the remaining observed polling places opened between 8-8: 30 am.
- Additionally, in nearly all observed polling places, party and other candidates’ agents were present at the opening of the polls.
- ECC, LEON and WANEP commend parties and candidates for the adequate deployment of agents to observe the voting and counting processes.
Polling Place Set-Up
ECC and LEON observers reported that all observed polling places had the required sensitive voting materials, including the final registration roll, ballot papers, indelible ink, the official ballot stamp, tactile ballot guide and the accounting forms. Additionally, an average of five NEC staff were present with two women polling officials serving on each team during the set-up. ECC and
LEON observers also noted the presence of other observers, including international observers and media representatives at the opening of polls.
- Observers also reported that in 27% of observed polling places, voters needed to use stairs to access the polling area, which potentially poses a challenge to persons with disabilities or the elderly.
- Finally, in all observed polling places, the ballot box was shown to be empty and properly sealed before voting began.
Voting Process
After the set-up and opening of polls, ECC and LEON observers remained stationary at their assigned polling places throughout the day to observe the voting, closing and counting of results.
At observed polling places, observers witnessed NEC staff generally following voting procedures and there was no problem with queue control due to the slow pace at which voters turned out to vote.
- Observers generally witnessed the consistent stamping of ballot papers before being handed to the voter and the availability of voting booths in all observed polling places, which guaranteed the secrecy of the vote.
- In all polling places observed, voters were asked to present their voter registration (VR) card before being allowed to vote. Also, both ECC and LEON observers noted that NEC polling staff consistently inked voters’ fingers after voting, in all observed places.
- Overall, polling places observed were peaceful throughout the day, with only two incidents of tension and late opening reported in Nimba electoral district 1 and 8 respectively. Observers also noted the presence of national security officers in nearly all observed polling places and the professional manner in which they conducted ECC, LEON and WANEP again commend the professional conduct of security officers during the voting process.
Closing and Counting Process
In 28% of observed polling places, there were still voters waiting in the queue at 6:00pm to vote, which indicates the late turn out of some voters during the day. In these instances, voters waiting in line were allowed to vote. Generally, polling places closed between 6-6:30 pm before the counting began.
ECC and LEON observers reported that there were party agents, representatives of the media and other observer groups present during the counting at observed polling places. At all observed polling places, all party agents approved and signed the result form and there was no complaint
filed by agents who observed the counting. Finally, observers reported adequate lighting during the counting in all observed polling places and the presiding officer posted a copy of the result on the wall at the completion of the count.
Critical Incidents
ECC and LEON observers reported one instance of late opening of polls and one case of tension at a voting precinct. Observers also noted the professional manner with which security officers handled the one incident of tension.
- During the early hours of voting, at the Venn Public School, having code 33111 in district number eight (8), there was an incident involving community residents in Venn Town resisted the setting up and opening of the polls by NEC polling staff because the government had neglected the structural renovation of the school building but continue to use the facility for the conduct of elections. This resulted in the late opening of the polls at about 9:30 am after the intervention of local authorities and when NEC opted to use a nearby church facility. This incident was reported by a chief of security to the ECC, LEON and WANEP joint Election Data Center and was later confirmed by a local journalist and verified by our Data Center Managers.
- During the counting at Precinct Jesus Love Academy having code 33077, ECC, WANEP and WONGOSOL observers witnessed an incident where there was tension and heated argument between independent candidate Torbor T. W. Farngalo and the NEC polling staff as well as the security officer present. According to candidate Farngalo, his agents had been denied observation at three of the five polling places at this precinct during the early hours of voting. He then later showed up with his agents during the counting, but was again denied by the NEC polling staff on grounds that the doors had already been shut for counting. This resulted in tension and heated exchanges, but did not disrupt the counting process because the number of security officers were then increased to disperse the crowd present. The Presiding Officers were unavailable at the time, due to the counting of ballots to counter the claim by candidate Farngalo.
Observers also noted the professional manner with which security officers handled the incident and tension mentioned above.
Tally of Results
ECC, LEON and WANEP have deployed coordinators at the two designated NEC magisterial offices in Nimba to observe the tabulation of results. All three institutions will continue to follow the process and provide relevant updates at its conclusion.
Recommendations
Based on its observations and findings from the 2025 Nimba Senatorial by-election, ECC, LEON and WANEP present the following preliminary recommendations:
To the National Election Commission:
- NEC should continue to maintain a high level of transparency, accountability and openness in the management of the results’ collation, tallying and announcement.
- Treat all electoral disputes equally, if any, and adjudicate them in a timely and transparent manner.
To political parties and independent candidates:
- Continue to commit to the principles of the Farmington Declaration signed in Ganta, Nimba County on April 15, 2025 and VaWIEP Protocol and take a leading role as advocates for peace.
- If any political party or independent candidate has grievances on the outcome of the results, they must follow the due process of law and refrain from inciting their supporters to violence.
Media:
That the media avoid propagating inflammatory and hate statements that has the potential to ignite violence.
CSO:
Civil Society Organizations must continue to engage with the entire electoral process, especially in playing the monitoring and reporting role.
Citizens:
Citizens of Nimba County are urged to exercise maximum patience and remain calm while awaiting the declaration of the final results by the NEC.
Background of the parties
ECC, LEON and WANEP-Liberia are collaborating parties on the 2025 Nimba Senatorial by-election. While the ECC and LEON are Liberia’s primary domestic election observation groups composed of network members with diverse competences, experiences and expertise in democracy, elections and governance targeting different sects of the population, WANEP, on the other hand has built a track record in West Africa in organizing and hosting a well-coordinated elections situation room that have immensely contributed to the mitigation of electoral violence, increase electoral credibility and improve democracy with support from its National Early Warning System (NEWS). All three organizations maintain a non-partisan status and conduct their observation and monitoring activities through volunteers residing in every electoral district in Liberia.
The Nimba 2025 Senatorial by-election is being coordinated from a joint election data center in Ganta, Nimba County, set-up by ECC, LEON and WANEP. This collaborative observation effort is fully supported by the European Union (EU) through the WANEP Regional Secretariat.