Troubling Turn of Events – Bility Alarms Over State of Rule of Law Under Boakai – Reacts to NEC Chairperson’s Suspension by Boakai

MONROVIA – While Most Liberian civil society organizations if not all are snoring to the appalling state of affairs in the country, specifically that rule of law is being trampled upon by the ruling elite, primely President Joseph Boakai, and that the traditionally rights-and-freedom sensitive diplomatic community continues to look on unconcerned, Nimba County representative Musa Hassan Bility is doing the weightlifting. Now heading House Speaker Koffa’s minority-bloc offshoot called “Rule of Law Caucus” in the House of Representatives, Bility is not letting any deviation and travesty of the law go unnoticed; the latest to draw his attention being the sudden suspension of the Chairperson of the National Elections Commission by the President Boakai – something Bility thinks is unilateral and troubling. The Analyst reports.   

Fast becoming ever alert to abuses and violations of the Constitution and laws of Liberia, and the rights of citizens, Nimba County Representative Musa Hassan Bility is once again awaked to what many describe as excesses of the ruling Unity Party and its Standard Bearer Joseph Boakai.

The latest by the President is the suspension of Davidetta Browne-Lansanah, Chairperson of the National Elections Commission (NEC), for what is termed an indefinite period for actions in violation of the Elections Law.

An Executive Mansion release asserts that the suspension followed an investigation into recent protests by aggrieved NEC workers regarding administrative decisions taken without proper consultation. According to the findings, Madam Browne-Lansanah unilaterally announced the closure of the NEC office for one month and dismissed 25 employees without the knowledge or approval of the NEC Board of Commissioners, as required by law.

But before inks got dry on the release, the Chairperson of the “Rule of Law Caucus” in the House of Representatives, Bility barked at the presidential move, stating that “in a troubling turn of events, the President of the Republic of Liberia has unilaterally removed and suspended the Chairperson of the National Election Commission (NEC)”.

Bility said the decision has raised profound concerns for Liberians, like him, who are committed to the principles of democracy, constitutional governance, and the rule of law.

“As members of the Rule of Law Caucus in the Honorable House of Representatives, we find this action deeply alarming, as it undermines the foundation of our democracy and threatens to erode the progress our nation has fought so hard to achieve,” the Nimba lawmaker said.

According to him, the National Election Commission was established as a tenured institution under the Constitution precisely to safeguard it from political interference, recalling that the Supreme Court of Liberia had ruled unequivocally that the suspension of tenured officers is tantamount to their removal.

Such removals are constitutionally permissible only through the impeachment process, which involves the National Legislature.

“By bypassing this process, the President has overstepped the bounds of his authority, contravening the separation of powers and undermining constitutional protections,” he said further, adding that the decision to remove the Chairperson of the NEC—an individual who presided over a hotly contested election and upheld its results—sends a chilling message about the state of Liberia’s democracy.

He stressed that the NEC chairperson’s removal “undermines public confidence in our electoral system, a cornerstone of democracy”.

He continued: “Without trust in free and fair elections, the very legitimacy of our government is called into question. This action is not just about one individual—it is about the future of governance in Liberia.”

Bility said the president’s action sets a dangerous precedent where the independence of institutions mandated to ensure fairness and transparency is compromised at the whims of the Executive. Such actions threaten the democratic fabric of our nation and place us on an unsteady path toward authoritarianism.

He called urge the President to rescind this decision immediately and allow constitutional processes to prevail, as removing or suspending the NEC Chairperson without the proper constitutional channels is a grave misstep that risks plunging the country into uncharted territory.

Once the people lose faith in the electoral process, the very essence of democracy is at stake, he asserted, insisting that Liberians have worked tirelessly to build and sustain their democracy, overcoming years of conflict and political instability.

To see these hard-fought gains jeopardized is unacceptable, he stressed. “We must remember that democracy is fragile; it requires constant vigilance and adherence to the rule of law.”

He called on fellow Liberians to let the moment serve as a wake-up call, indicating that a democracy thrives only when its institutions are strong, independent, and respected. When those institutions are undermined, we all stand to lose.

“We must not allow any individual, no matter their office, to dismantle the foundations of our governance. Let us unite in defense of the Constitution, the rule of law, and the democratic values we hold dear,” he cried out. “This is not just a matter of governance—it is a matter of national survival.”

Bility warned that if Liberians were to allow such a dangerous action to stand, “we risk eroding the trust and stability that have been the bedrock of our democratic progress. This must stop.

“For the sake of our democracy, for the sake of Liberia, the President must adhere to the Constitution and the rule of law.”