MONROVIA – The Joint Security headed by the Ministry of Justice has issued a stern warning against the premature announcement of election results on social media, emphasizing the importance of upholding the democratic process.
By Lennart Dodoo, [email protected]
The Joint Security, a collaborative effort by various law enforcement agencies in Liberia, says it is closely monitoring social media platforms for any individuals making threats that could undermine the peaceful democratic process. The call for responsible citizen journalism comes at a time when the nation is grappling with the challenges of ensuring a fair and transparent election.
The Ministry of Justice, in a press conference held last week Friday, reiterated the constitutional and statutory authority of the National Elections Commission (NEC) as the sole entity authorized to declare and announce election results. The Ministry urged political parties and individuals to refrain from announcing results ahead of the NEC and to avoid premature celebrations until the final official results are declared.
“We did this last week Friday during a press conference. We wish to stress the warning against the announcement of results ahead of NEC,” stated the Ministry of Justice.
Meanwhile, concerns have been raised as the Unity Party’s campaign coordinator and former Finance Minister, Amara Konneh, provided an unofficial update on votes tallied by the party’s technical team earlier today. Konneh claimed that 85% of all polling places had been reported, with Joseph Boakai leading by 40,910 votes nationwide. He promised further updates by 7 pm GMT, emphasizing that these figures were unofficial but certified by NEC record of counts. The Unity Party had reportedly invested heavily in poll watching across the country.
In response to early result announcements, the Ministry of Justice issued a warning, stating, “People engaging in early celebrations that become rowdy or riotous will be arrested.” The ministry emphasized the importance of resolving election grievances peacefully through the legal process in accordance with the law.
The Joint Security assured registered voters of their security and the protection of their votes, urging everyone to participate in the electoral process peacefully. While expressing a commitment to restraint, the Joint Security warned that any unlawful aggressions would be met with reasonable and proportionate force.