MONROVIA – Following Friday’s announcement of the run-off election results by the National Elections Commission, President George Weah has gracefully acknowledged his defeat. The results indicated that his longtime rival, former Vice President Joseph Boakai, secured the lead with a margin of 28,434 votes (1.78%).

President-elect Boakai, who served as Vice President under former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for 12 years, brings to the presidency over 40 years of experience in the public sector.

The National Elections Commission unveiled the latest outcomes of the November 14 run-off election on Friday evening, highlighting a closely contested race between the two candidates. According to the NEC, President Weah garnered 785,778 votes (49.11%), while Ambassador Boakai secured 814,212 votes (50.89%), resulting in a 28,434-vote difference (1.78%).

Throughout his campaign, Boakai pledged to rescue Liberia from what he asserted was a Weah administration marked by mismanagement and corruption.

New Georgia – The Women’s Situation Room (WSR) has called on disadvantaged youth, described as “zogos,” to refrain from electoral violence as the institution implements civil and voter education awareness for a peaceful election. The civil and voter education efforts are being supported by the European Union.

WSR recognizes the significance of these elections in shaping the future of Liberia and believes that every citizen’s voice should be heard through their vote.

Accordingly, the institution emphasizes that it is the right of every eligible voter to be informed about their responsibilities.

Addressing a group of disadvantaged individuals, the Angie Brooks International Centre’s Establishment Coordinator, Madam Yvette Chesson Wureh, urged them to maintain a peaceful posture and continue spreading peace messages in their various communities.

She stated, “Election is not about war; it is not about castigating. It’s all about exercising our political rights. If a person has different views on the elections, it doesn’t mean you should fight that person. You are not a dog or a cat; you are a human being. Your mother sent you to school to know the difference, so if they bring their money to you, you eat it well. Because if they were taking the money and giving you a job, you would be in a better position today.”

Madam Wureh also reminded them that resorting to violence not only undermines democracy but also perpetuates a cycle of instability and division within society.

“I don’t care whether you go to the CDC or UP; it’s your constitutional right to go to any party, but our only problem is that we don’t want any kind of violence on the streets.”

She continued, “I beg you: if you go into the streets and these politicians give you five dollars, two dollars, or whatever, it’s to create problems. Don’t do it. Are there children here? So why do you want to die for them? If they want to spoil other people’s campaigns, let them bring their children and stand in front of them.”

According to her, young people are encouraged to refrain from electoral violence, noting that young people are often quickly used in times of violence.

She added, “When you cause problems on this ground and we go to war, do you think you’ll see the politicians? They will get on the plane and go, leaving you to die. So why do you want to cause problems? Do you want life to be disturbed outside? That’s why we are here today to tell you to listen to the result. If you are not satisfied with the result, go to court.”

MONROVIA – The Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC), has called on all Liberians to conduct themselves peacefully as was done during the first round of voting as they go to the polls to vote on Tuesday, November 14, 2023.

The ECC in a press statement on Monday, said November 14, 2023, will be a defining moment for Liberia as voters go to the polls to elect their next president.

According to the ECC statement, the institution has documented instances of attacks in Bong, Nimba, and Grand Gedeh counties by political party supporters during the run-off campaign and as such, called on all political actors to uphold the Farmington Declaration and preserve the peace. Recently, there have been several threats made against observer groups.

“Despite this harassment and intimidation, the ECC will continue to conduct its observations impartially and objectively and release its reports publicly. The ECC further reminds the NEC that its observers who are deployed convey observation reports primarily using their phones.

“Therefore, the NEC and polling officials are encouraged to allow the observers to use their phones while observing the process. The ECC equally hopes that the recently concluded training of NEC polling officials will ensure adherence to polling procedures such as correctly sorting and reconciliation of the ballots during the counting process.

“ECC is aware of the challenges faced by some poll workers during the first round of the elections and admonishes the NEC officials to increase supervision and proper conduct of the process.

“ECC Election Day Observation and Deployment Methodology In preparation for observing this election, the ECC trained and deployed 1738 observers — 1500 short-term observers, 73 electoral district supervisors, and 19 county coordinators. The ECC also trained and deployed an additional 146 district observers to support supervision and the observation of the tally process at the NEC’s magisterial offices.

“Of the 1500 STOs, 1200 are deployed as stationary observers stationed at polling places throughout election day, and the remaining 300 short-term observers will be mobile. The 146 district observers, county coordinators, and supervisors will also be mobile, reporting on the general electoral environment on election day.

“The ECC will issue two statements on its observation of the run-off election process, including a mid-day/situational statement on election day and a preliminary statement following election day. The election day situational statement will highlight observations of the opening and setup of observed polling places.

“The second is a preliminary statement, focusing on voting, closing, counting, and tabulating results—post-election Observation. The ECC will deploy observers to observe the tallying process at all magisterial offices across the country to assess the process transparency level. The ECC will further observe the filing and adjudication of all electoral petitions arising from the conduct of the election.

The ECC proposes the following recommendations: To NEC:

“Communicate to the public an update on the level of preparedness before the election day, including distribution of sensitive and non-sensitive materials as well as the readiness of polling staff to deploy adequately to their polling places on election day.

“Communicate to the public on time about any challenges faced during the election and the tallying and transmission of election results.

“Inform the public that threats, intimidation, and harassment of observer groups will not be tolerated.

“To Political Parties: Those political parties ensure the proper deployment of party agents on election day to observe the voting, tallying, and transmission of results. The two major political parties are encouraged to inform their supporters to turn out peacefully and vote on election day. Inform political party supporters that intimidation and threats against observer groups will not be tolerated.

“To Security: Conduct its electoral security operations in a professional and non-partisan manner.

“To Media: Refrain from disseminating, disinformation and misinformation that tends to instill fear in the population.

Paynesville – The Standard Bearer of the Unity Party, Ambassador Joseph Nyuma Boakai, has cast his ballot at the Kathleen McGuire Catholic School in Paynesville. Accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Kartumu Y. Boakai, the Former Second Lady of the Republic of Liberia, the Boakais participated in the democratic process at the precinct where they have cast their votes in the past two elections.

The McGuire Catholic School precinct holds significance for the Former Vice President, serving as a symbolic backdrop for his political journey. Today, however, marked a pivotal moment as Boakai aimed to secure a historic victory that would propel him to the presidency of Liberia.

The first round of the polls, which took place on October 10, saw the incumbent CDC in a neck-and-neck battle with no clear winner emerging. The anticipation and political tension escalated as the country prepared for the second round, originally scheduled for November 7, 2023. However, the date was pushed forward to November 14, a move that many Liberians perceived as a breach of the country’s constitution.

Despite the controversies surrounding the rescheduled date, Ambassador Boakai arrived at the McGuire Catholic School precinct with determination and optimism. As he marked his ballot, he expressed the significance of this moment, describing it as the most important ballot of his life, one that could potentially lead him to become the next President of Liberia.

Liberians across the nation are watching closely as the electoral process unfolds, eager to see the outcome of a closely contested race that has captured the attention and emotions of the entire nation. The Boakai campaign, built on the foundation of unity, hopes to bring about positive change and progress for Liberia. As the ballots are cast and the counting begins, the nation waits in anticipation for the announcement of its next leader.

Monrovia – The early stage of the run-off Presidential election is showing a low turnout, but the one man is working to bring people out of their homes to vote is Momo Kamara, a resident of Montserrado County District #7.

Kamara lives in the Township of West Point. During a tour taken by FrontPage Africa in the early morning hours, Kamara was observed with a white megaphone speaker, calling on voters to turn out and vote as part of efforts to increase voter turnout.

The October 10 election had a significant turnout, but from the look of things, the run-off may suffer from low participation.

Kamara explained to FPA: “This morning when I woke, I noticed that there was a low turnout. I went to the polling center, and the place was empty. When I finished voting in the CK Johnson area where I registered, the place had very poor attendance.”

He added: “When I finished voting, I said to myself that the way people were turning out for the first election, this time around people are not coming out.”

Kamara further explained: “So, I decided to use my megaphone to go around and encourage people to vote. Now, I am going around and telling people to vote. When I reach out to them, if they are washing or doing something else, I will ask if they have finished voting. If they say they have not voted, I tell them to go to the place they registered and vote. I inform them that the process is very easy, and they will not stay long.”

According to Kamara, nobody gave him money or told him to do what he is doing. He added that he felt moved when he went to vote and noticed the low turnout.

“Nobody gives me a dime, nobody talks to me to do what I am doing. As a patriotic citizen, I took the initiative to go around and talk to people to vote because the election is about everybody and not just one person’s business. For every yard I entered and talked to people, some of them would leave what they were doing and go vote,” he said.

Kamara added: “If it causes me to pass around the whole day, I will do it because the election is everyone’s business. If you want better healthcare, if you want a good education, please come out to vote because we don’t want you, after the process, to not vote and then try to shift blame.”

Kenedeja, Paynesville City – President George M. Weah radiated immense confidence in winning the Tuesday, November 14 Presidential run-off.

Responding to journalists after casting his vote alongside his wife, Clar Duncan Weah, son Champ Weah, and entourage, the Liberian Leader, clad in his customary white voting outfit, emphasized that Liberians would elect him based on his accomplishments over the last six years.

According to him, he is explicitly confident that a successful re-election victory is highly possible because Liberians have a vested interest in his government.

President Weah stated, “I am always confident; I go through the process. Again, the confidence that Liberians have placed in me with my work. I think, with everything that I have done already, the Liberian people will elect me.”

The Liberian Leader, who led his Rehab Community neighbor, Joseph Nyumah Boakai, in the October 10 polls with marginal votes of 804,087 to 796,961, equivalent to 43.83% to 43.44%, expressed delight over the high level of calmness and non-violent attitude exhibited by Liberians in the polling processes.

With a slightly lower turnout compared to the October polls, Weah is realistically optimistic about more voters turning out before the 6 o’clock deadline provided by the NEC.

“Everybody is voting, and there is no tension. That’s the democracy we want,” he said.

Emphasizing, “I don’t want to say people are reluctant because up to 6 o’clock, people will be voting, so some people know the time they want to come vote. Like me, at 10 o’clock, I was supposed to be here, and I am here.”

Monrovia – The West Africa Network for Peace-building (WANEP-Liberia) has taken proactive measures to ensure a smooth and peaceful conduct of the Presidential Runoff Election scheduled for Tuesday, November 14, 2023. In an effort to monitor, analyze, report, and facilitate responses to potential violent threats, WANEP-Liberia has deployed 133 local observers across nine counties in Liberia.

Supported by the European Union and complemented by Swedish and Austria Development Agencies, WANEP-Liberia’s initiative is part of its Electoral Violence Monitoring, Analysis, and Mitigation (E-MAM) project. The observers will focus on low, medium, and high-risk areas in thirty-eight districts, spanning Montserrado, Lofa, Grand Gedeh, Bong, Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Nimba, and Margibi counties.

The Election Situation Room (ESR), headquartered at Bella Casa Hotel in Monrovia, comprises four operational sections: the Data Gathering Room, Analysis Room, Decision Room, and Communication Room. This integrated approach involves 45 mobilized Liberians, including youth, experts, and eminent persons, with additional support from WANEP’s regional office.

The ESR’s reopening was marked by a press briefing on November 13, where WANEP expressed appreciation for the peaceful first round of the election and urged citizens and institutions to maintain decorum for a successful runoff election. The Center for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) will support the ESR by fact-checking sensitive incidents and social media posts before public release.

With a critical election ahead, 2,471,617 registered Liberians, comprising 50.058% females and 49.9% males, are set to participate. This runoff is deemed crucial for sustaining the country’s democracy, marking 20 years since the end of the civil war.

However, the period following the first round witnessed political fluidity, with WANEP-Liberia’s National Early Warning System recording 23 incidents of violence and political tension from October 11 to November 10, 2023. These incidents occurred in various counties, including Nimba, Lofa, Montserrado, and Grand Cape Mount.

The WANEP-Liberia ESR highlighted key concerns and lessons learned from the first round, including identified hotspots, unregulated campaign activities, unofficial result announcements, and slow voting processes. The ESR called on the National Elections Commission (NEC) to address these issues, emphasizing the importance of professionalism, timely result releases, adequate lighting, and equal access to state resources.

In conclusion, the WANEP-Liberia ESR issued a set of urgent appeals:

NEC to exhibit professionalism.

NEC to release results in a timely manner.

Ensure adequate lighting during voting, counting, and tallying.

Political parties and supporters to refrain from unofficial result announcements, intimidation, and violence.

Promote rhetoric that fosters unity and acceptance of election outcomes.

Strengthen security response mechanisms.

Joint Security leadership to be proactive and non-partisan.

Media to avoid spreading misinformation on mainstream and social platforms.

The ESR will remain open from November 13th to 15th, 2023, from 7:00 am to 12:00 midnight daily, in a concerted effort to contribute to a peaceful and credible electoral process in Liberia.

PAYNESVILLE – The Chairman of the Traditional Chiefs and Elders, Chief Zanzan Karwor, in a press conference on Tuesday, has called on both the Unity Party (UP) headed by Amb. Joseph Nyumah Boakai and the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) led by President George Manneh Weah to maintain the peace as they both face the second round of the election on November 14, 2023.

Chief Karwoh addressing the press at his Paynesville compound, used his position to call on both the CDC and UP to keep the peace and make use of the Justice system in case of dissatisfaction rather than rallying people to march the street to cause violence.

“As head of the traditional chiefs and elders, the advisory armed of the government, I am calling on all Liberians including all political parties to keep the peace, and for any reason you aren’t satisfied with the election result, go to the law.

“The art that created the council of chiefs and elders, our work is to protect and preserve the culture and serve as an advisory arm to the government, so let me make it clear that I am independent and not part of any political party so nobody should think that I am a part of a particular party,” Chief Karwor said.   

Chief Karwoh further said that there has been a temporary ban placed on bringing country devils outside whether for traditional reasons or intimidating purposes across the 15 parts of Liberia till after the November 14, 2023 elections.

“All zoes, elders, chiefs, grand zoes, and deputy, nobody will bring country devil outside until the election is over. Because we don’t want to intimidate the National Elections Commission because we want fair and free election in this country,” Chief Karwoh added.

MONROVIA – The National Elections Commission has released up to 92.98% of the total votes for the presidential elections, making it certain that Liberia will go for a runoff election in November as required by the Constitution unless there is litigation against the process.

As of Monday, the Chairperson of the National Elections Commission, Madam Davidetta Browne-Lansannah, announced tally results from 5,467 of 5,890 polling places across the country, constituting 92.98% of the total polling places.

She also announced 100% results from three counties, including River Cess, Lofa, and Gbarpolu Counties.

Former Vice President Joseph Boakai is in a very slim lead with 43.70% of the total valid votes, while incumbent President George Weah has 43.65%.

With only 7.02% of polling places left to be counted, it is evident that neither candidate will obtain the constitutional requirement of 50% + 1 vote to be declared the winner of the election.

Below are the results between Ambassador Joseph Nyumah Boakai (JNB) and President George Manneh Weah (GMW) by counties.

MONROVIA – Recent election results released by the National Elections Commission on Sunday now bring the Commission about 75 percent closer to announcing the final results of the October 10 Presidential and General Elections.

On Sunday, the NEC chairperson, Davidetta Browne-Lansannah, announced progressive results from 4,295 of the 5,890 polling places, which constitutes 72.92% of the total polling places.

The NEC disclosed that the progressive results show that 1,355,140 valid votes have been tallied so far while 80,910 invalid votes have been recorded.

President George Weah remains in the lead, but there is a very thin margin between him and Ambassador Joseph Boakai of the Unity Party. According to the NEC, President Weah has obtained 593,558 votes (43.80%) while Ambassador Boakai has 589,977 votes (43.54%).

Below are the results between Ambassador Joseph Nyumah Boakai (JNB) and President George Manneh Weah (GMW) by county.