LEAD: Liberia Supreme Court halts preparations for presidential election runoff

01 Novembre 2017

Monrovia, Liberia, November 1 (Infosplusgabon) - The Liberia Supreme Court on Wednesday halted preparations for the presidential runoff election scheduled for 7 November following a writ filed by Charles Brumskine, a candidate who came third in the first round of the vote, according to court documents obtained by Infosplusgabon.

Charles Brumskine and his running mate have sued the National Elections Commission (NEC) and Board of Commissioners alleging fraud in the first round of the election held on 10 October.

The orders of the Supreme Court read: "You are commanded to instruct the respondents (NEC and the Board of Commissioners) to stay any and all actions in respect of the pendinbg runoff election scheduled for November 7, 2017, pending the disposition by the Supreme Court of the petioners' petition.

"You will further inform the parties that given the constitutional issues raised in the petition, coupled with the fact that election matters are to be expeditiously heard and determined, that upon service of the writ and the returns thereto, the case is hereby docketed for urgent disposition by the Bench...

"You are further commanded to instruct the respondents herein to file their formal returns to this writ in the Office of the Clerk of this Honourable Court on or before the 2nd day of November 2017 AD."

The National Elections Commission (NEC) has been preparing feverishly for next Tuesday's second round. It has already taken delivery of ballots papers for the vote.

The run-off will be between ex-footballer star George Weah, 51, of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), who polled 38.4 percent, and incumbent vice president Joseph Boakai, 71, of the ruling Unity Party (UP), who polled 28.8 percent in the first round. There were 20 candidates in the first round.

The candidate who polls more than 50 per cent will be declared the winner.

FIN/INFOSPLUSGABON/VIA/GABON 2017

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