The National Elections Commission of Liberia (NEC) has indefinitely suspended the conduct of the Lofa County Senatorial by-election which was scheduled for May 10, 2023. The NEC on Friday, May 6, 2022, called a news conference at its national headquarters on 9th street in Monrovia to announce the scheduled May 10, 2022, Lofa Senatorial by-election will not be held as earlier planned.
Speaking on the status of the Lofa County Senatorial by-election, the Chairperson of the NEC, Madam Davidetta Browne Lansanah said, “Due to the ongoing legal dispute between the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) Versus the All Liberian Party (ALP) and the Unity Party relative to the participation of an aspirant under the Unity Party in the said by-election, the Commission has determined that it will not be feasible to conduct the Lofa County Senatorial by-election on May 10, 2022, as earlier planned.”
The Commission said it has already communicated its position to the Liberian Legislature, given that any extension of the by-election date beyond the ninety-day constitutional provision will require further legal mandate.
It may be recorded that the Commission on February 16, 2022, received from the Senate a communication, notifying the Commission of a vacancy in the Liberian Senate for a seat for Lofa County. The NEC noted that in keeping with article 37 of the Constitution of the Republic of Liberia, it has 90 days from the date of receipt of the said notification to cause the by-election to be held; accordingly, the NEC scheduled the 2022 Lofa County Senatorial by-election for May 10, 2022, thereby leaving the Commission with a week before the expiration of the 90-day period.
Madam Davidetta Browne Lansanah narrated that it is within the preview of the NEC if it can not perform certain activity on a particular date to inform the Legislature especially if the activity emanates by way of notice from the Legislature, saying “we are rightly placed to inform the Legislature of the non-feasibility of that particular date.”
She added that it will require another resolution by the Legislature for a new date – that is the procedure but determination will be made by the Legislature, she noted.
Speaking further the NEC boss assured that once the Commission receives a mandate from the Liberian Legislature, it will communicate a new date for the by-election to the people of Lofa and the Liberian people in general following “the final disposition by the Honorable Supreme Court of Liberia concerning the appeal related to the said 2022 Lofa County Senatorial by-election.”
Responding to question if the NEC has received the required fund for the conduct of the by-election, the NEC Chairperson averred that the Commission has received the amount of US$1.2 million budget with cash in the possession of the NEC in the bank – all funding intended for the conduct of the Lofa County Senatorial by-election has been delivered to the Commission, she further said.
Meanwhile, the NEC calls on all citizens of Lofa County and interested stakeholders in the Lofa County Senatorial By-election to remain calm and peaceful as the legal process unfolds.
Unrelated to the Lofa County by-election, the NEC said it has learned with disbelief the unfortunate incident of the mysterious disappearance of its Logistics Officer in Grand Gedeh County, Mr. Alfred T. Dunner. It said the incident has been reported to the Liberian National Police, and the Commission will continue to make follow-ups on the process of the investigation. The NEC called on all Liberians to keep Mr. Dunner and his family in prayers for his safe return.
Reported by: Stephen G. Fellajuah
WhatsApp: +231777015294
Email: fellajuahstepheng@gmail.com
