MONROVIA – President George Weah faces the risk of losing a substantial number of votes in Maryland County, a key stronghold in the southeastern region, in the Nov. 14 runoff election if Speaker of the House, Bhofal Chambers, continues his efforts to overturn the election results of Pleebo Sodeken District from the October 10 election, where he was defeated in the district-level election.
By Lennart Dodoo, [email protected]
According to the final results announced by the National Elections Commission (NEC) on October 18, Mr. Anthony F. Williams obtained a total of 8,105 votes, constituting 45.29%, while Chambers accumulated a total of 8,024 votes, constituting 44.84% of the total votes cast. This resulted in a mere 81-vote difference, equivalent to 0.45% between the two candidates. But Chambers is contesting the results and has filed a complaint before the National Elections Commission. Many believe that his complaint is a ploy employed by him to manipulate the decision of the NEC.
At a joint press conference held by the Elder Council of Maryland, Maryland Youth Association, Rural Women, and the Pleebo Youth Association, the groups said they were constrained to bring the attention of the President and foreign missions, as well as other international observers, to the attempts by the Speaker to overturn the will of the people of Sodeken District. They alleged that Chambers continues to instigate violence and employ other chaotic means within the district, undermining their cultural norms and traditions under the guise of politics.
The groups stated: “As traditional people, citizens, and residents of Pleebo Sodoken District, we want to inform President George Manneh Weah officially through this press release about the attempt by one of his officials, Speaker Bhofal Chambers, to undermine the peace and democracy of our dear district, Pleebo Sodoken District, by vehemently influencing and working to tamper with the results of the October polls, which placed his major rival, Mr. Anthony F. Williams, in the lead, as earlier announced by the National Elections Commission. In a democracy, the will of the people prevails and must be respected by everyone, regardless of their status in government or the country as a whole.”
The groups called on President Weah to intervene and advise Speaker Bhofal Chambers to accept the will of the people as expressed through the election results.
They warned that if the Speaker succeeds in overturning the result, it would tarnish President Weah’s democratic record. The groups noted that during the campaign period, Mr. Williams wrote to the NEC regarding the regulation that requires political parties, independent candidates, or alliances to notify the National Elections Commission within seven days of their official campaign launch. In line with this regulation, Williams, from the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP), sent a notification to the NEC on July 28, 2023, informing them of his campaign launch scheduled for October 8, 2023.
In the following month, in August, Chambers violated the seven-day regulation by pressuring the NEC magistrate and staff to change Mr. Williams’ official campaign launch date from October 8, 2023, to October 7, 2023. Surprisingly, the NEC granted Mr. Chambers the October 7 date without him even applying for it. This decision by the NEC Maryland Branch, according to the groups, created a major conflict between the two candidates and their supporters. Both parties claimed the same date for their campaign launches, raising concerns that it could escalate into a violent situation.
They revealed that they had to intervene to defuse the tension by asking Williams to accept the October 7 date. “Mr. President, we encourage you to advise your Speaker, Mr. Chambers, to accept and respect the decision of the populous masses. His constant attack on the traditional activities of the people of Pleebo Sodoken District and some local staff of the National Elections Commission has the potential to derail the long-lasting peace of our district, County, and Country at large,” they stated.
They added: “Let it also be known that his constant and unwanted attacks on the results of the October polls are sending a clear message to the people of the district mentioned herein to unite forces and grudgingly reject you, Mr. President, at the ballot box on November 14, 2023, presidential runoff polls, if and only if Mr. Chambers isn’t advised to refrain from his unnecessary attacks, accept the results, and appreciate the people through whom he is recognized nationwide today.”