Monrovia – The ECOWAS Commission Observation Mission has emphasized the need for the Legislature and other critical stakeholders in the country to consider the review of relevant portions of the Liberian Constitution and electoral law to allow elections to be held during the dry season.
During a press conference held on Thursday to provide updates on its observations of election activities in the country, the mission stated that allowing elections to be held in the dry season would enable election workers and materials to reach hard-to-reach destinations more efficiently.
Professor Attahiru Jega, the Head of the ECOWAS Observation Mission, noted that there were challenges associated with infrastructure and their impact on the smooth conduct of the elections. He urged the government to implement measures to improve infrastructure conditions.
While acknowledging that the polling process generally proceeded smoothly and peacefully, long queue congestion at voting precincts and the slow pace of the process led to some voters expressing frustration.
Jega used the opportunity to recommend a reform in the election laws to reduce the number of voters per polling unit, while considering the resources needed for this reform to address congestion and long queues.
Jega further stated, “The sense of patriotism exhibited by polling staff, security forces, and the populace, who collectively played their parts in ensuring a peaceful conduct of the 2023 general elections.”
Jega urged stakeholders in the election process, particularly political parties, candidates, and their supporters, as well as security forces and citizens, to remain calm and patient until the official declaration of results by the National Elections Commission.
The ECOWAS Commission, through its head, Jega, also reminded candidates and political parties of the commitment made within the framework of the Revised Farmington River Declaration. This commitment involves using only legal channels and lawful means to address any disputes that may arise from the conduct of the 2023 general elections.
Jega added, “We similarly appeal to all stakeholders to refrain from making any statements that may lead to a breach of the peace.”
Furthermore, the Commission, through Jega, urged the National Elections Commission to diligently and urgently work on ensuring the timely and transparent release of results to defuse any potential tension that may arise from long waits for results.
The Mission expressed its continuing obligation to closely monitor the concluding phases of the electoral process, particularly the aggregation, collation, and release of results from the counties, and the national declaration of preliminary results. It stated that it will make further pronouncements should the need arise.
Meanwhile, the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission highly commends the vast majority of the electorate for their patience and the sense of patriotism they exhibited. The Mission hopes for the same maturity to be displayed while awaiting the official announcement of the results by the Liberia National Elections Commission.