MONROVIA – As the National Elections Commission (NEC) draws closer to announcing the final results of the presidential election, it appears increasingly improbable that either President George Weah or former Vice President Joseph Boakai will secure the constitutionally mandated 50 percent plus one vote needed to be declared the winner.
By Lennart Dodoo, [email protected]
On Monday, NEC released from 5,467 of 5,890 polling places across the country, constituting 92.98% of the total polling places.
With only 7.02 percent of the result left to be announced, Pres. Weah, as of Monday, has obtained 43.65 percent of the total valid votes while Amb. Boakai leads him with 43.70 percent.
The NEC announced results from all polling places in River Cess, Lofa, and Gbarpolu Counties, while the outstanding 12 counties are nearing completion.
As of Monday, the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change has won Bong, Grand Bassa, Rivercess, Sinoe, Grand Gedeh, Rivergee, Grand Kru and Maryland Counties, the opposition Unity Party has Nimba, Lofa, Margibi, Montserrado, Bomi, Grand Cape Mount and Gbarpolu Counties.
Pundits believe the remaining 7.02% of the votes cannot catapult any of the candidates to victory, thereby, necessitating the need for a runoff election.
Under Article 83(a) of the Constitution, the presidential run-off elections must be held on the second Tuesday following the announcement of the results of the first round.
County | Number of polling places | PERCENTAGE TALLIED | PERCENTAGE WON BY JNB | PERCENTAGE WON BY GMW |
BOMI COUNTY | 170/171 | 99.42% | 25,258 (52.69%) | 18,152 37.86% |
BONG | 553/555 | 99.64% | 67,124 (38.35%) | 76,776 43.87% |
GBARPOLU | 134/134 | 100% | 16,703 VOTES (44.53%) | 15,247 VOTES 40.65% |
GRAND BASSA | 343/405 | 84.69% | 31,498 VOTES (35.03%) | 39,348 VOTES (43.76%) |
GRAND CAPE MOUNT | 143/213 | 69.01% | 19,503 VOTES (45.04%) | 17,866 VOTES (41.26%) |
GRAND GEDEH | 161/163 | 98.77% | 4,638 VOTES (10.53%) | 34,419 VOTES (78.16%) |
GRAND RKU | 109/110 | 99.09% | 2,556VOTES (8.39%) | 24,222 (79.55%) |
LOFA | 424/424 | 100% | 73,761 VOTES (56.16%) | 35,951 VOTES (27.37%) |
MARGIBI | 246/441 | 55.87% | 38,856 VOTES (49.10%) | 30,062 VOTES (40.02%) |
MARYLAND | 167/175 | 95.43% | 5,920 VOTES (11.13%) | 34,990 VOTES (73.03%) |
MONTSERRADO | 1559/2008 | 97.56% | 313,371 VOTES (46.36%) | 312,496 (46.23%) |
NIMBA | 732/736 | 99.59% | 137,433 VOTES (59.53%) | 50,269 VOTES (21.77%) |
RIVERCESS | 105/105 | 100% | (24.71%) | 15,398 VOTES (58.530%) |
RIVER GEE | 96/98 | (97.96%) | 16.22% | 19,130 VOTES (70.27%) |
SINOE | 120/152 | 98.95% | 3,421 VOTES (11.44%) | 23,352 VOTES (77.76%) |