MONROVIA — Two former Commissioners of the National Elections Commission (NEC) James Fromayan and Johnathan Weedor, now heads for a local election monitoring group, ‘Center for Development and Elections’ Management (CEDEM) have expressed disappointment and surprise for the unprecedented delay that is associated with the conclusion of the 2020 Senatorial Election.
Making specific reference to the case involving Lofa County Senator Brownie J. Samukai, they said the failure of the NEC to certificate him more than two months after his victory is a disturbing development that portrays the NEC that should be independent acting otherwise which they said is tantamount to a dereliction of the NEC responsibility.
“There is absolutely no justifiable reason why NEC has not certificated Mr. Brownie Samukai after his convincing victory in December. The indecisiveness of the NEC to certificate Samukai like others in his category gives the impression that the NEC is allowing undue outside influence in its work.”
Speaking on other electoral dispute matters, the two former commissioners referenced Nimba County Edith Gongloe-Weh and Representative Jeremiah Koung said, eyewitnesses account clearly authenticate the occurrence of fraud and massive irregularities that clearly impacted the result of the Nimba election.
“CEDEM attention has also been drawn to the situation in Gbapolu County where violence was perpetrated against Mrs. Kanneh allegedly by supporters of the ruling party in an effort to intimidate her along with her supporters.”
Restoring Chapter 6, section 2(1) of the Elections Law
CEDEM is also calling for the restoration of chapter 6, section 2(1) of the 1986 Elections law as a means of preventing constitutional crisis in 2023. According to the group during the 2014 special Senatorial Election, the Supreme Court without petitioning any aggrieved Party or Parties, removed the remedial provision that provided for the seating of a candidate declare victorious by the National Elections Commission whose victory is contested by another candidate or party.
In its place, the Supreme Court ruled that once a complaint is filed against the election of a candidate, even to the extent that said complaints lacks merit, the candidate concerned cannot be certificated until the complaint is adjudicated.
CEDEM believe that ruling by the Supreme Court is the basis for the current multiplicity of complaints filed to the Elections Commission. Another issue of grave concern to CEDEM is the need for Biometric enrollment to constitute the method of Liberia’s voter registration.
Former Commissioner Fromayan and Weedor on Wednesday at a news conference also recommended the establishment of an electoral tribunal to adjudicate electoral cases to ensure speedy resolution of electoral dispute.
Fromayan resigned in the height of the 2011 Presidential and general elections that gave Former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf a second because of a typo-error that almost caused serious electoral violence after a runoff election was declared between the George Weah Congress for Democratic (CDC) and the Former ruling Unity Party (UP).
CEDEM further called for an efficient and effective decision making at the level of the NEC Board of Commissioners, and that the membership of the commission be reduced from seven to five as was the case before 1997.
They also believe that unilateral power of the President in relation to the nomination and appointment of commissioners of the NEC be reviewed with the objective of inserting a vetting mechanism that would ensure that the collective interest protected.
CEDEM also want the independence of the National Elections Commission be solidified by the Government of Liberia granting it financial autonomy status in the form of making available to the commission on a Semi-annual basis budgetary allocation to ensure that the commission focuses on the execution of its duties rather than daily trips to the Ministry of finance.
CEDEM is a National Civil Society Organization established in May 2019 by Liberians dedicated to the peace and development of Liberia. Initially known as Edward Wilmot Blyden Center for research and development, CEDEM is a legal Organization consistent with the laws of Liberia. The Center is dedicated to finding solution to the challenges confronting the Liberian Society in areas of election and other sectors of national development.