MONROVIA: The Chairperson of the National Elections Commission (NEC), Madam Davidetta Brown Lassanah has ruled out any chance or possibility of the candidate nomination exercise being extended at the end of the 30 day period allotted by the Commission for aspirants to file their applications for the various elective positions and urged all aspirants along with their political parties, unions, coalitions, agents, etc to work diligently within the set timeframe avoid any embarrassment that may arise.
Speaking to the media following the tour of the facility put in place for the exercise at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville City yesterday, Wednesday, June 14, 2023 Chairperson Davidetta Browne Lansanah said the exhibition and candidate nomination exercises are in line with the key days of NEC released for the 2023 general elections in Liberia, at which time she warned that no amount of politics will make NEC to extend the time.
“On the 12th of June we began giving out packages. I am told that despite we made all of these announcements there were very few aspirants who came to this center to pick up their packages. I will say it once again, the NEC will not, must not, and should not extend the candidate nomination”, she warned.
In addition, she emphasized that the nomination period is the most critical process towards the October 10, 2023 elections, underscoring that it is only this process that will qualify a candidate to go out there and canvas for elective seat.
“Now, most often Liberians are in the habit of waiting for the last minute to time to do their registration or different processes. We are encouraging you that if you don’t come now and you waste time, you will have yourself to blame, not the Commission”, Madam Lansanah further warned.
The nomination process, according to Madam Browne Lansanah, is where aspirants who want to contest in the upcoming elections will approach NEC to pick up their packages as well as fill in their various forms and to bring in documentation that are needed from them to be scrutinized, from where aspirants who meet the criteria will be qualified for the October 10 polls. She also said nomination package will be issued to chairperson or national secretary general, or designated person of the party, while independent candidate will receive their package as well.
The NEC boss further stated that the Commission is running two activities simultaneously, one being the exhibition exercise and it is intended for Liberians who are 18 years and above who have registered in the 20 March to 11 May BVR process to visit the centers and check their data to see whether there are issues to be corrected and the other activity is the candidate nomination exercise.
“Meanwhile, NEC is encouraging all registrants and the general public to fully participate in the on-going exhibition of the provisional registration roll (PRR). NEC reminds all Liberians that the exhibition which started on Monday, June 11 at all of the 2080 Voting Precincts across the country, will end on Saturday, 17 June, with no extension.
“The objective of the exhibition is to afford would-be voters and the public the opportunity to verify their details and make sure their names, age, sex and photo etc. are correct.
“During the exhibition, individual can also make claims for omitted data, such as name, age, sex, photo to be included, change of incorrect name, age sex, unclear photo on the roll, and object to the inclusion of ineligible persons on the PRR. At the same time, the commission wants the public to know that accreditation of party agents, observers, and the media will end on September 11, 2023. The accreditation process started on June 10, 2023”, a press release issued by NEC yesterday announcing the candidate nomination process said.