MONROVIA – After a long legal battle between Mr. Thomas Yaya Nimely and Mr. Zoe Pennue, the National Elections Commission (NEC) says it will go ahead on Wednesday to certificate Senator-elect of Grand Gedeh County Zoe Emmanuel as winners of the December 8, 2020 election.
Zoe was given a greenlight by the NEC to take office as Senator of the County and that will be legitimize by his certification on Wednesday February 17, 2021. They made the disclosure Monday through a communication.
In a communication to Representative Pennue, NEC Declare him (Pennue) winner of the December 8, 2020 special senatorial Elections in Grand Gedeh County, and invite him to a formal certification program to be held Wednesday of this week.
“Pursuant to 2.9 of the new elections law of Liberia the Commission will certificate you as winner of the December 8, 2020 Special Senatorial Election in Grand Gedeh County on Wednesday February 17 2021,” The NEC says letter stated.
The Board of Commissioners (BOC)’s decision read today Monday, 15 February 2021 by its Chairperson Davidetta Browne Lansanah follows a prayer of default motion by lawyers representing Hon. Zoe Emmanuel Pennue led by Cllr. Jimmy Bombo.
The Board of Commissioners said the ruling is consistent with law as provided for under default motion.
The Board, through Chairperson Browne Lansanah agreed with the respondent that the legal team representing Thomas Yaya Nimely failed to perfect its appeal within seven days, as provided for under the law.
All seven members of the BOC, including Chairperson Davidetta Browne Lansanah, Co-chairperson Cllr. P. Teplah Reeves, Commissioners Boakai A. Dukuly, Barsee Leo Kpangbai, Cllr. Ernestine Morgan Awar, Floyd Oxley Sayor and Josephine Kou Gaye heard and signed the three elections cases.
The unanimous decision of the Board of Commissioners of NEC Monday also orders the Certification Committee of NEC to proceed with plans for the certification of Representative Zoe Emmanuel Pennue as Senator Elect of Grand Gedeh County.
In a related development, the Board of Commissioners has granted a motion of the respondent for the Hearing Officer of the Commission to resume hearing the summary proceeding case involving Mr. Simeon B. Taylor of Grand Cape Mount County and the CDC, by and through Senator Victor Watson also of Grand Cape Mount County.
The ruling of NEC, through its Chairperson Davidetta Browne Lansanah Monday also instructed the Clerk to make available the remaining minutes to the complainant without delay. The ruling of the Board follows the hearing of agreements from lawyers representing Mr. Simeon B. Taylor, including Cllrs. Merfee Kanneh and Bobby Livingston and Cllr. Alijah Swalibo Sesay, representing Senator Victor Watson.