As NEC 2nd Result Keeps UP Boakai In The Lead
Photo source: NEC Liberia results portal
By Our Staff Writer
In the second batch of results released by the National Elections Commission (NEC) from the October 10 presidential election show that the mian opposition Unity Party’s candidate Joseph Boakai remains in the lead.
According to the NEC results from 392 of the polling places released on Thursday, October 12, 2023, across the country, constituting approximately 6.66% of the total polling places.
Joe Boakai, UP
Former Vice President Boakai remains at the forefront with 57,862 votes, representing 46.27% of the counted ballots. President Weah is in a close second with 49,510 votes, constituting 39.6% of the votes tallied thus far. Cllr. Tiawan Gongloe of the Liberian People Party (LPP) trails behind, with 4,483 votes, or 3.59% of the total. National Elections Commission – Results Portal (necliberia.org)
In violation of NEC election law, Boakai’s UP on Thursday claimed that they have won Tuesday’s election and that there won’t be a need for a second round. Rev. Luther Tarpeh told a news conference that their statement was prompted by “90% of Tally sheets” in their possession.
The United States Embassay on Thursday criticized some political parties and candidate who are beginning to pre-maturely declare themselves winners in the just ended presidential and legislative elections. US Embassy In Monrovia Raises Concern Over Some Parties/Candidates Pre-maturely Claiming Victory – News Public Trust
“One round victory” hope fading
Some political analysts say if this trend continues, it will be almost impossible for Weah and his CDC to clinch a “one round victory” as he and his campaign team had repeatedly told the Liberian people.
Many news reports were carried from campaign rallies about this vow by the Liberian leader and his party that they are poised for a “one round victory”.
Pres. George Weah
“At the climax of his campaign tour of Western Liberia, President George Manneh Weah returned from the engagements a happy man after receiving unprecedented series of endorsements from citizens of the region with, something and echoes and heralds the CDC much-vaunted “one round victory” mantra everywhere, thus indicating that the President is poised to be re-elected on October 10, 2023.” One-Round Victory Echoes In Western Liberia -Weah Endorsement in Bomi, Gbarpolu, Cape Mt. Massive – Analyst Liberia (analystliberiaonline.com)
However, the Secretary General of the CDC, Jefferson Koijee a day after Tuesday’s elections still boasted of his party getting a “one round victory”.
Tuesday’s presidential and legislative elections passed off generally peacefully, despite a number of incidents of pre-elections violence.
Incumbent President and former international football icon-turned politician, Weah is making his second term bid and most of his rivals, especially UP’s Boakai and another opposition contender Alexander Cummings of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) have vowed to make the Liberian leader “a one-term President”. Weah is facing 19 other contenders.
The 2023 election is the fourth general election since Liberia’s second civil war officially ended in 2003.
Meanwhile, NEC will continue to progressively release results over the coming days.