Office of Ombudsman, NEC Wrap in Controversy -As Ombudsman Alleges Non-Compliance but NEC Rejects Allegation

By:  Lincoln H. Dalieh

MONROVIA: A legal dispute has emerged between the Office of the Ombudsman and the National Elections Commission (NEC) of Liberia, igniting tensions within the Monrovia City Court. The disagreement centres on a recent petition filed by the Ombudsman’s Office, represented by Chairperson Finley K. Karnga, which alleges that the NEC has been uncooperative in providing a comprehensive list of political party officials.

On July 24, 2024, the Monrovia City Court issued a writ of subpoena duces tecum, compelling the NEC to produce a detailed list of officials from all registered political parties. This order followed a request made by the Ombudsman’s Office through its chairman, Finley K. Karnga. The National Election Commission complied with this directive, delivering the requested list to the court on August 1, 2024.

However, the NEC has raised serious concerns about the accuracy of the petitioner’s claims. According to a statement from the NEC’s legal counsel, Cllr. A. Teage Jallah, the Ombudsman’s Office provided misleading statements in its ex-parte application. The NEC alleges that the Ombudsman inaccurately claimed that the Commission had ignored their requests and withheld information.

In response, the NEC provided a detailed account of their interactions with the Ombudsman’s Office. Director Ignatius B. Wisseh, responsible for political affairs at the NEC, reportedly met with Ombudsman representatives, including Cllr. Lamii Kpargoi, on July 16, 2024. During this meeting, Wisseh offered a log containing information on all registered political parties, including chairpersons and secretaries. When the Ombudsman’s representatives requested additional details about other officials, Wisseh assured them that the list would be updated and promised to follow up within a week.

Despite these assurances, the NEC claims that the Ombudsman’s Office proceeded to submit an application to the court without acknowledging the ongoing discussions and the NEC’s efforts to comply. This omission, the NEC argues, created a misleading narrative of non-cooperation on the part of the electoral governing body.

NEC Director Wisseh reiterated in an email exchange between Director Wisseh and Ombudsman Office Chairman Karnga on July 19, 2024 the Commission’s commitment to providing the requested information. Karnga, according to Director Wisseh’s account, expressed appreciation for the NEC’s cooperation. The NEC representation included these email exchanges in their submission to the court as evidence of that the Commission acted in good faith contrary to representation made to the court by the Office of the Ombudsman.

The NEC’s legal counsel contends that the Ombudsman’s actions amount to bad faith and therefore seeks appropriate sanctions against the petitioner. The NEC’s submission emphasizes the commission’s willingness to cooperate, and provided to the court a detailed timeline of the NEC’s interactions with the Ombudsman’s Office.

As the court reviews the case, it remains to be seen how these allegations of misinformation and misrepresentation will impact the on-going dispute between these two significant entities in

Liberia’s electoral landscape, as the outcome of this case could have broader implications for the transparency and accountability of public institutions in Liberia.