Monrovia – The National Election Commission (NEC) has announced the first preliminary results from the just-ended Senatorial By-election in Nimba County and the Representative By-election in Grand Gedeh County District #1. The pronouncement from the NEC puts Unity Party Senatorial Candidate Nya Twayen in the early lead, while Representative Candidate Jeremiah Sokan takes the early lead in Grand Gedeh County District #1 By-election.
By J.H. Webster Clayeh (0886729972)[email protected]
Disclosing to journalists during a press conference at the James Fromayan Conference Hall on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, the Chairperson of NEC, Davidetta Browne Lansanah, said the elections in both Nimba County and Grand Gedeh County District #1 were conducted under a peaceful atmosphere. According to Madam Lansanah, 167 polling places out of the total of 736, constituting 21.33 percent of the results, have been tallied, putting the Unity Party’s Candidate Twayen in the early lead, with Senatorial Candidate Samuel Kogar next in line.
“Twayen, Nya UP, votes obtained, 19,966 votes, constituting 81.36 percent,” Commissioner Lansanah said.
In Grand Gedeh County District #1, NEC announced that 31 polling places out of the total 46, constituting 67.39 percent, have been counted, with independent Representative Candidate Sokan in the early lead.
“Sokan, Jeremiah independent, votes obtained, 2,067 votes, constituting 29.47 percent,” Madam Lansanah disclosed to journalists.
The by-elections in Nimba County happened as a result of the vacancy caused by the then Senator Jeremiah Koung, who won on the ticket as Vice President to President Joseph Boakai. Also, in Grand Gedeh, the by-election came because of the death of Representative-elect Erol Madison Gwion, who got re-elected two months before his death. The former Representative Gwion died on December 4, 2023. He was a member of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC). In the 2021 by-election, Gwion contested the Grand Gedeh County #1 District seat on the Liberia Restoration Party ticket. In the election, he defeated the then-ruling party CDC candidate Jeremiah Garwo Sokan. In April 2022, Gwion established the District Development Council. He claimed to donate fifty percent of his salary to the organization, which sought to contribute to community empowerment and development.