MONROVIA – The Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) has urged the Chairperson of the National Elections Commission (NEC) to promptly remove Reverend Isaac Samuel Zahn, who serves as the director for the database at the commission.
In a formal letter addressed to Davidetta Brown-Lansanah, the Chair of the NEC, the CDC expressed concerns that retaining Rev. Zahn in his current role could undermine the credibility of the ongoing electoral process. The party emphasized the necessity of his immediate removal to safeguard the integrity and credibility of the election results being tallied.
The CDC alleged that Rev. Zahn is a member of the opposition Unity Party and has close ties to Joshua Milton Blahyi, popularly known as “Butt-Naked,” a staunch supporter of the Unity Party. To support their request, the CDC included evidence of a press conference where Rev. Zahn was accused of having affiliations with the Unity Party. They also provided a flyer promoting events that he co-hosted with his spiritual father, Mr. Joshua Milton Blahyi, who was previously known as General “Butt-Naked” and is linked to the Unity Party.
In response, the NEC’s Chair confirmed receiving the letter from the CDC and indicated that the party had been called for a conference with the political affairs section and relevant staff members.
The CDC further contended that Rev. Zahn holds a critical role within the commission, managing the database, developing data-driven solutions, overseeing elections data for Liberia, and coordinating data management during candidate nominations. They argued that allowing him to continue in these roles while maintaining his controversial connections to the Unity Party would severely compromise the credibility and integrity of the democratic process.
The CDC expressed disappointment that the commission appeared unwilling to take action to remove Rev. Zahn, given the serious allegations against him and his public association with the Unity Party. They insisted that his continued involvement in the tallying of election results posed a substantial threat to the process.
Additionally, the CDC pointed out irregularities in the collation process, such as the printing of final tally sheets with the signature of NEC staff rather than party agents, deviating from standard practice. They also raised concerns about mathematical errors on tally sheets, suggesting the possibility of intentional manipulation.
In conclusion, the CDC called on the NEC to conduct a thorough investigation into Rev. Zahn’s conduct and immediately cease his involvement in the ongoing tally of results for the general and presidential elections. They urged the commission to take all necessary actions to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.
