Liberia Supreme Court Delays Presidential Runoff Indefinitely

Liberia’s Supreme Court on Monday ordered the country’s
electoral commission to resolve a fraud complaint lodged by an
opposition party before a scheduled runoff vote for the presidency
can be held.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Francis Korkpor said the National
Elections Commission (NEC) was prohibited “from conducting the
runoff election until the complaint filed by the petitioners is
investigated,” referring to the opposition Liberty Party.

It did not order a new date for the vote, which was originally
to be contested on Tuesday by former international footballer
George Weah and incumbent vice-president Joseph Boakai.

The date can only be decided by the electoral commission, once
the complaint is resolved, it said.

The court found that the NEC had acted contrary to the law in
declaring Weah and Boakai the top two candidates in an October 10
first round election while a question mark over the validity of the
votes was pending.

“By setting a date and proceeding to conduct a runoff election
without first clearing the complaint of the petitioners which
alleged gross irregularities and fraud, the NEC was proceeding
contrary to rules which are to be adhered to at all times,” Korkpor
said.

The court urged the commission to hear the Liberty Party’s
complaint lodged on October 23 and resolve it with “urgent
attention”, given the “critical” nature of the presidential
vote.

AFP

Liberia’s Supreme Court on Monday ordered the country’s
electoral commission to resolve a fraud complaint lodged by an
opposition party before a scheduled runoff vote for the presidency
can be held.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Francis Korkpor said the National
Elections Commission (NEC) was prohibited “from conducting the
runoff election until the complaint filed by the petitioners is
investigated,” referring to the opposition Liberty Party.

It did not order a new date for the vote, which was originally
to be contested on Tuesday by former international footballer
George Weah and incumbent vice-president Joseph Boakai.

The date can only be decided by the electoral commission, once
the complaint is resolved, it said.

The court found that the NEC had acted contrary to the law in
declaring Weah and Boakai the top two candidates in an October 10
first round election while a question mark over the validity of the
votes was pending.

“By setting a date and proceeding to conduct a runoff election
without first clearing the complaint of the petitioners which
alleged gross irregularities and fraud, the NEC was proceeding
contrary to rules which are to be adhered to at all times,” Korkpor
said.

The court urged the commission to hear the Liberty Party’s
complaint lodged on October 23 and resolve it with “urgent
attention”, given the “critical” nature of the presidential
vote.

AFP