Liberia's Supreme Court slates ruling in election petition for Monday

03 Novembre 2017

Monrovia, Liberia, November 3 (Infosplusgabon) - The Supreme Court of Liberia on Friday reserved ruling in the petition for a writ of prohibition, filed by the Liberty Party on the 10 October election, for Monday, 6 November.

Chief Justice Francis Korkpor said the issue was a constitutional matter and therefore the full bench will study it and the ruling given on Monday.

He said the court had used Friday to hear the arguments of the lawyers of the National Elections Commission (NEC) and the petitioners (Liberty Party) as required for adjudication of the matter.

Chief Justice Korkpor explained that the Supreme Court was only hearing the petition for prohibition and that the court had no case before it relating to annulling the elections.

Third-placed Liberty Party had filed a petition to the Supreme Court seeking a Writ of Prohibition to stop the NEC from announcing the results of the 10 October presidential and representative elections.

Presidential candidate and veteran lawyer, Charles Brumskine of the Liberty Party, argued as lead lawyer for his party.

The party claimed there were “massive irregularities and fraud” that compromised the outcome of the polls, necessitating its legal action.

But the electoral body, in the absence of a restraining order from a court, went ahead and announced the results and scheduled a run-off between first and second winners, Senator George Weah, and incumbent vice president, Joseph Boakai, respectively, for 7 November.

However, the Supreme Court later placed a temporary stay order on “all and any actions” of the NEC in preparation for the run-off until the petition of the Liberty Party was heard and a ruling delivered.

The NEC then announced it had stopped all preparation for the run-off, expressing doubt that the second round polls could be held on 7 November as scheduled.

FIN/INFOSPLUSGABON/KGO/GABON 2017

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