“Video Shows Likely Signs of Election Rigging” -Says VOLT’s Political Leader Whapoe

By: Stephen G. Fellajuah     

MONROVIA – The Political leader of the Vision for Liberia Transformation(VOLT) Dr. Jeremiah Z. Whapoe, has said that the social media video which trended a few days ago, has likely signs that the government had planned to rig the 2023 Presidential and legislative elections, giving credence to the contents and raised an alarm that every citizen should be concerned about it.

Dr. Whapoe made the statement during an interview on Thursday, September 22, 2022 at VOLT national headquarters on the Old Road, when he said that he believed the information in the video revealed the truth, because the government of Liberia for the past time and months has been displaying potential indicators of rigging the election in favor of the ruling party favor.

 ‘’As a professor of research and from my own understanding of what is happening on the ground from the various speeches, I can say that the video is not fake because the information contained in the video is real and we are seeing the reality around us here’’ Dr. Whapoe expressed.

He particularly mentioned that the action of President of Liberia, George Manneh Weah to call the Senate to an emergency session to make law to replace all elections magistrates across the country is a potential indicator that they want to rig the elections.

Furthermore, he pointed out that the government has printed eight billion Liberian dollars which are not circulating on the market and further said the money only comes on the market when the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change(CDC) is having activities, which he said is also an indicator of a plan to rig the elections.

Additionally, he mentioned that for the Armed Forces of Liberia to be sending strong caveats ahead of 2023 that the Army will not sit and watch the country’s democracy be derailed, adding that the ruling CDC to also think about training thugs in Lofa as militants further indicates rigging of the elections.

Over the weekend the Liberian Government through the Ministry of Justice announced that its attention was drawn to a malicious video being circulated on social media, which makes erroneous and incendiary claims about the state of affairs in the country.

“While the recent uptick in political activities ahead of general and presidential elections is understandable, “no amount of desperation should lead us to toy with our security. This is very wrong, and could potentially damage the country’s stability and international reputation. ”, the Acting Chair of the Cabinet, Justice Minister Frank Musa Dean has said.

The Justice Minister therefore engaged Liberia’s international partners, including the heads of the Embassies of the U.S. and European Union, calling on them to vehemently condemn the dangerous and inciteful ploy which seeks to undermine Liberia’s hard-earned peace.

Minister Dean warned that engaging in false news with a clear intent to incite and create agitation in the general population is against the law; and therefore, anyone found fermenting or sponsoring activities intended to create chaos could face the full weight of the law.

“The video not only cast aspersions on our enviable electoral system – which has gained much international acclaim recently – it also dangerously posited that the government is bringing in the country nefarious elements intended to create violence”, the Minister said.

At the same time, the International Community has distanced itself from a fake news video circulating on social media which suggests that the Weah regime is bent on rigging the impending 2023 general and presidential elections.

“We strongly condemn any attempt to link the International Community with these allegations which could threaten and undermine national security. We stress that those responsible must be held accountable. We once again remind all political and media stakeholders of their responsibility to refrain from hate speech, disinformation, and violence, especially in the run-up to the 2023 elections”, the statement said.

The International Community in Liberia wishes to reaffirm its continued commitment to peace and stability in Liberia,” a message sent by the United Nations Residence Coordinator on behalf of the International Community.

Meanwhile, the Liberia National Police and the National Security Agency o Liberia has launched joint investigation to that those responsible for said video are made to face the full weight of the law, adding that the video contain barrage of information of that border on national security invoking terrorist group operations in Liberia.

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