MONROVIA – The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has cautioned political leaders and activists in Monrovia, urging them to refrain from using incendiary rhetoric that could incite violence, disrupt the peace, and destabilize the country.
In a statement released through its Resident Representative in Monrovia, ECOWAS stressed the importance of political actors resorting to dialogue and mediation to address grievances, while also emphasizing the need to follow legal channels for addressing concerns related to the electoral process.
“ECOWAS underscores the crucial role of state institutions in maintaining neutrality throughout the electoral process, ensuring a level playing field for all stakeholders to exercise their constitutional rights within the framework of the rule of law,” the regional body emphasized.
Furthermore, ECOWAS reiterated the significance of adhering to the provisions of the Farmington River Declaration, which it views as fundamental to guiding the behavior of all political actors in safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process.
The regional organization announced that its long-term observers, currently present in Liberia, will remain vigilant in assessing the political landscape as the country approaches the elections.
ECOWAS’ caution to political actors comes in the wake of recent allegations made by Nimba County Senator Prince Johnson, who accused the government led by the CDC of planning to manipulate the elections. Senator Johnson, a supporter of the opposition Unity Party, vowed that their supporters would resist any such attempts, drawing a parallel to the Arab Spring.
Also, Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon, also a Unity Party supporter, led a group of followers to the National Elections Commission (NEC) on Friday, demanding the publication of the Final Voter Roll. Senator Dillon criticized the NEC Chairperson, Davidetta Brown, labeling her behavior as “unprofessional,” and pledged to maintain pressure on the NEC until the Final Voter Roll is released.
