By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor in Monrovia
The National Chairman, Jerome Korkoya, says commissioners of the National Elections Commission (NEC) are under grave fear for their lives, accusing Bomi Senator Sando Johnson of threatening them.
Chair Korkoya said that the threat came in the wake of ruling made by the board of commissioners in the case between Montserrado County Representative Edwin Melvin Snowe, Cllr. Gayah Karmo and Senator Sando Johnson on the issue of domicile.
The commission ruled in favor of Representative Snowe, but the ruling did not go down well with the Bomi County lawmaker, Johnson, who allegedly threatened to “deal with the commissioners”, especially Chairman Korkoya.
Detailing the threats to members of the press, Korkoya explained on the morning of Monday, August 114, 2017, he reportedly received a called from Sen. Johnson with a threat that he (Johnson) would deal him and the board of commissioners for the ruling made against him.
Korkoya added that Johnson started his threats with insults and adding he (Johnson) will called him (Korkoya) to rain insult on daily basis. Not being satisfied with the threat through voice called, the senator reduced the insults and threats into SMS message, which is in the possession of commissioners.
Korkoya pointed out that the text message revealed that Senator Johnson would deal with them legally and politically. It is not clear what constitute threat that NEC commissioners would fear for their lives.
The NEC chairman says he believes the threat by Johnson to deal with the commissioners political could be political assassination and other cruel means. Observers believe the NEC might be a bit paranoid about the purported threat, although insults against the commission are unacceptable.
On August 9, the Board of Commissioners of Liberia’s National Elections Commission denied an appeal from Rep. Samuel Gayah Karmo of the ruling Unity Party, Bomi County Electoral District #1 Bomi County and Senator Sando Johnson of the National Patriotic Party against Rep. Edwin Melvin Snowe of Montserrado County Electoral District #6.
Rep. Snowe is making an unprecedented bid to leave his current district of representation in Montserrado County for a play in the district Rep. Karmo has represented for the past six years.
Following the ruling, lawyers representing Rep. Karmo and Senator Johnson took exception to the decision and immediately pledged to mount an appeal for the second time, this time to the Supreme Court, which is currently embroiled in a major impeachment push against three of its justices.
Commissioner Sarah Toe ruling on behalf of the Commission, said, “In view of the foregoing, the appeal is denied and dismissed.”
Meanwhile, Chairman Korkoya has promised to file a formal complaint to the plenary of the Liberian Senate and other key stakeholders to quiz the senator to provide further explanation on his threat.
When our Monrovia Correspondent contacted Senator Johnson via mobile phone, he confirmed that he used the words of dealing with the commissioners, but said he would do so legally and politically. He however, denied that he rained insults on the commissioners.
