By Stephen G. Fellajuah
Five senators who are winners of the December 8th Midterm Senatorial election were yesterday certificated by the National Elections Commission (NEC) while winners of the remaining 10 counties will be certificated pending full disposal of complaints filed against the conduct of the process in their respective counties.
Those certificated includes incumbent Senator Darius Dillon of Montserrado County (CPP), Senator Prince Kermue Moye of Bong County (CPP), Emmanuel James Nuquah of Margibi County (PUP), incumbent Nyonblee Karngar Lawrwence of Grand Bassa County (CPP) and Jonathan Boycharles Sogbie of Rivergee County (CPP).
The Certification Program was held Tuesday at the Headquarters of National Elections Commission on 9th Street Sinkor in Monrovia.
In her special Statement, the Chairperson of the NEC, Davidetta Browne Lansanah, said the Special Senatorial Elections were successfully conducted on December 8, 2020 across the 15 political division of Liberia, saying the NEC is still looking into post electoral complaints involving 10 counties of the 15 counties.
She said the decision of not certificating the winners of the 10 counties is in line with the decision of the Honorable Supreme Court of Liberia, and assured that the public winners of those counties will be certificated without any delay as soon the cases are adjudicated and disputes resolved; noting further that the commission is certificating winners from 5 counties that are cleared of all post elections complaints.
While the Commission was celebrating the process and the determination made by Liberians in these 5 counties as to who represented them in the Liberian Senate, the NEC boss reiterates its utter dismay over the incidents of electoral violence that have attended the process.
She indicated that she was especially surprised at the way people were affected from violence against supporters of some candidates and NEC staffers, some of whom were mercilessly beaten and others with bodily injuries in the past weeks in Gbarpolu, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Kru and Sinoe counties.
In order to avoid the repetition of the acts of violence in the future, the NEC called on the perpetrators of the violent act to desist as their actions have the propensity to derail future electoral processes, undermine the sustainability of the democracy, and threaten the peace and stability of the country.
Chairperson Browne-Lansanah at the same time called on the relevant authorities to take action against the perpetrators of these acts of electoral violence as she commits the NEC support to investigating the cases. According to her, the “Commission’s staff members, offices of election magistrates and assets, including electoral materials and vehicles were also damaged.”
Meanwhile, Madam Lansanah disclosed that registered voters in Norman Datunom in Gbarpolu County will be casting their ballots today to determine who represent them in the Liberian senate.”
She used the ceremony to remind Liberians that election is the concern of all, and it is therefore binding on all Liberian to ensure peaceful elections at all times while cautioning them to commit to the rule of law as the surest way to sustain peace and democracy in the country.
Madame Browne Lansanah thanked the Government of Liberia and partners of the Commission for their support during the conduct of the elections while extending appreciation to political parties, alliances and electorates for their participation in the December 8 elections.
Remarking on behalf of the five senators who were certificated by the National Elections Commission, Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon said, there are fascinating stretches ahead of the country, pointing out that either the senate will no longer be the same or will continue to kill the hope of the people and the country.
“We are going with renew vigor, allowing God to order our steps that we can fight for our people and country”, he assert, clarifying that they are not going to be obstructionists of progress; but instead, they will stand for proper check and balance as the new batch of elected senators have committed support to the agenda of the government.
He also stressed, “This group of elected senators will stand against anything that is not in the interest of the people.
“We will work at the will and pleasure of the people. We will declare our assets before we take office, to begin the process of fighting corruption for transparency, accountability, integrity in public service”, he assured.
Welcoming the participants earlier, Commissioner Boakai Dukuly said unlike previous elections since the end of the civil war, the 2020 Special Senatorial Elections and Referendum were organized, conducted and protected exclusively by Liberians. This, according to him, signifies that the current Board of Commissioners is competent, patriotic, dutiful and mindful of the critical impact that every action has on Liberia’s fragile peace and democracy.
Commissioner Dukuly accentuated that the Commission is the balance holding between peace and chaos in Liberia, stating that “the NEC legitimizes all elected positions in the Country,” and called on all Liberian to refrain from making statements that will tint the integrity, competence and impartiality of the Commission.
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