MONROVIA– The National Elections Commission (NEC) on Thursday, June 30, 2022 provided its preliminary official result of the Tuesday, June 18, 2022 Lofa County Senatorial By-election. Against expectations from many quarters that had expected the Lofa County by-elections to have been an easy ride for Unity Party’s candidate Galakpai Kortimai, Independent Candidate Cllr. Joseph Jallah, who was heavily supported by the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) party, has come out swinging with 20,484 votes against Kortimai’s 16,666.
According to NEC Chairperson Davidetta Brown-Lansana, Lofa County senatorial by-election was conducted in a peaceful atmosphere.
“The tally process began the following day, the same being 29 June, 2022 at our magisterial offices in Kolahun and Voinjama respectively in the presence of the candidates, agents and independent observers. The tallied results from both magisterial offices were transmitted to the data center of NEC headquarters where they were collated. We are pleased to announce officially that 83.92% of the results have been tallied,” Chairman Lansana stated, noting that the tallied results constitute 381 of 454 polling places, representing 83.92% of the total ballots cast in Lofa County.
Briefing the Liberian people on the outcome of the Lofa County senatorial results, Madam Lansana disclosed in alphabetical order that Independent Candidate Momo Cyrus obtained 4,753 votes, constituting 9.42% of the total votes tallied; while Independent Candidate Madam Mariamu Fofana obtained 5,456 votes, constituting 10.82% of the total votes tallied.
Going further, the NEC boss said Independent Candidate Joseph Jallah obtained 20,482 votes, representing 40.61% of the total votes tallied; while Unity Party candidate Galakpai Kortimai obtained 16,666 votes, representing 33.04% of the total votes tallied. Trailing the candidates were Sumo Kupee of the PUP who obtained 1,908 votes, representing 3.78% of the total votes tallied, and Independent Candidate George Samah who obtained 1,176 votes, representing 2.33 votes tallied.
Madam Lansana further disclosed that out of the total 52,183 ballots tallied, 50,441 were valid while 1,742 were invalid.
Pundits believe that the NEC provisional results announcement might cool off the blistering tension created in Lofa County as a result of supporters from the two top contenders parading the city streets claiming that their candidate had won the elections.
According to our correspondent in Foya City, pro-Jallah supporters took to the streets jubilating even before the NEC boss ended her press briefing.
However, the Kortimai camp is still optimistic that fate will favor them when the final ballots are tallied from the 73 remaining polling places.
“The Elections Commission report did not say from which area the ballots were tallied. We have our own copies of the tally sheets. At the end of the day, they will know who is who,” Tarnue Kollison said.
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