Liberian Senate to intervene in 10 October poll row

Monrovia, Liberia, November 16  (Infosplusgabon) - Liberia's Senate, the upper house of parliament, has set up a seven-member Special Committee to consult political and national leaders as well as international partners to resolve disputes arising from the 10 October Presidential and Representative elections.

The committee is headed by Armah Zolu Jallah, president pro-tempore of the Senate, and includes Senators J. Gbleh-bo Brown, Peter Coleman, Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, Conmany B. Wesseh, Oscar Cooper and Marshall Dennis.

The resolution was the outcome of a ‘special retreat’ the body held 14 November outside Monrovia on disputes emanating from the 10 October elections “with the aim to strengthening democracy and its relevant institutions and to consolidate peace in our country.”

The National Elections Commission (NEC) is currently probing allegations of “widespread irregularities and fraud” levied against the commission by the Liberty Party (LP) and the ruling Unity Party (UP).

The Liberty Party had filed a writ of prohibition at the Supreme Court against the NEC, and the court halted the process, leading to a run-off election, and asked the commission to investigate and rule in the LP complaint.

The Senate noted that after the 10 October elections, some political parties were unhappy with the outcome and have availed themselves to the processes provided by the Constitution and Election Law, admonishing all aggrieved parties not to do anything that may disrupt the peace, security and stability of the country.

The upper house encouraged the NEC to “expeditiously adjudicate” matters before it within timelines, and vowed that it will not support nor encourage any actions designed to undermine the Constitution to create unconstitutional governmental structures as experienced during the 14 years of war in the country.

It assured the people of Liberia and the global community that the country remains at peace and will strictly follow the constitutional course in the transfer of power.

The Senate thanked the Liberian people for their peaceful turnout and participation in the 10 October elections and their exercise of exceptional patience during this challenging period, urging Liberians to continue to remain calm in the interest of peace and stability and consistent with the rule of law.

Twenty-three of the 30 members of the Liberian upper house of parliament signed the resolution released on Wednesday in Monrovia.

FIN/INFOSPLUSGABON/ANT/ GABON 2017

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