S/Court Disqualifies Rep Candidate Tweh -For Holding Dual Nationalities

By: Melvin Jackson

MONROVIA: The list containing those who were qualified by the National Elections Commission(NEC) may not be the final one as some of those who passed the hurdle from NEC are being disqualified from contesting at least speaking from the ruling of the Supreme Court of Liberia which yesterday punctured the candidature of a representative candidate for District #11, Montserrado County, Dr. Thomas Tweh, commonly called “Original Country man”.

The ruling yesterday also reversed the ruling of NEC that earlier confirmed the ruling of the hearing officer to allow District #11 Representative candidate Dr Thomas Nimene Tweh to contest the election.The court in its opinion delivered by Chief Justice Sie-Nyene Yuoh, said that Dr Tweh is not eligible to contest the ensuing elections as a representative candidate because he is an American citizen which violates the constitution and electoral laws of Liberia

It can be recalled that District #11 Representative Candidate Madam Siah Tandapolie, complained to the NEC that Dr. Tweh is an American citizen who has not denounced one of his allegiances.

The matter went before the hearing officers of the NEC and Dr Thomas Tweh was cleared and similar judgment was obtained before the NEC full body, confirming the officers’ ruling.

The NEC rules say only candidates, participating political parties, coalitions, and alliances are competent to challenge nominees on the provisional list of the 2023 general and presidential elections.

The high court also said that it was established by the Geo-information service of the NEC that Dr. Thomas Tweh or Original Countryman is not a resident of electoral District #11.

“That the national elections commission being authorized by law to investigate candidates and scrutinize documents proffered by aspirants /candidates seeking to contest in elections, such as an investigation into whether an aspirant or candidates has renounced his or her foreign nationality cannot be equated to proceeding usurping the functions of the attorney general or minister of justice under section 21.50 of the aliens and nationality law.” The court said.

Speaking in an interview with judicial reporters minutes after the ruling Candidate Siah Tandapolie, said no total stranger will lead the people of District #11.

She further revealed that it’s not about who wins the elections but ensuring that the right things are done by the laws of the country.

Madam Tandapolie maintained that a person aspiring to be a lawmaker must first be law abiding as a first point of discipline, a character that Dr. Tweh lacks.

For his part, Cllr Lafayette Gould, who won the case on behalf of the complainant, expressed disappointment in the National Elections Commission for granting access to someone who holds dual citizenship.

 

 

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