Monrovia, Liberia – The clarity and transparency of the election results that the National Election Commission (NEC) is releasing have drawn criticism from two former senior NEC officials. In a weekend interview with the media, former NEC Chairman James Fromayan and former Commissioner Jonathan Weedor expressed their concerns, saying that the public is not given a comprehensive knowledge of the NEC’s present reporting practices.
A consultant for the Unity Party campaign team, former chairman James Fromayan expressed his displeasure with the NEC’s presentation of the results, saying that numerical figures, as opposed to percentages, should be used, as has been the norm since the counting process started. He stressed that comprehensive data, such as the total number of votes cast at the precinct and county levels, the number of votes each candidate earned, and the number of spoiled ballots, must be provided.
”NEC is confusing the people with the way they are proceeding with the announcement of the result.”
In agreement, former commissioner Weedor said that the public is confused as a result of the NEC’s reports. He emphasized how crucial it is to guarantee free, fair, and transparent elections with outcomes that the general public can easily understand.
In order for people to understand where we stand, he continued, the percentage had to be linked to the figure. If you don’t have that, you generate ambiguity, which could lead to miscommunication and disorder.
Based on their data analysis, both former NEC officials voiced their conviction that the Unity Party (UP) is likely to gain a first-round victory, especially in the most populous counties, despite their worries about the reporting technique.
The results from these counties were critical in determining the outcome of the election, according to former chairman Fromayan, who observed that UP seemed to have substantial support in these areas. In Lofa County, where the UP Standard-bearer is from, UP received more than 70% of the vote, said former commissioner Weedor. In several other counties, he also emphasized the party’s impressive result.
In order to preserve national harmony, the ex-NEC officials encouraged the NEC to make sure that the results are in line with the tally sheets and records and demanded that the election results be accepted. They underlined how crucial it is to safeguard the public’s desire throughout the political process.
