NEC Announces More Provisional Results
By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor In Monrovia
Latest reports of provisional results of the Presidential and Representative elections in Liberia show that George Manneh Weah of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) top in 12 of the 15 political subdivisions (counties), and closely followed by Vice President Joseph Boakai, standard-bearer of the ruling Unity Party.
The only three counties that Senator Weah is not leading are Lofa, Nimba and Grand Bassa. In Lofa, Vice President Joseph N. Boakai is leading, Sen. Prince Johnson leads in Nimba, while Cllr. Charles Brumksine is leading in Grand Bassa County.
The National Elections Commission is yet to announce more results. With less than 50 percent of total votes cast nationwide in, many believe that Weah’s commanding lead may not cross the winning line of 50% plus one vote over the rest of the 19 other political parties to win on first round.
Reading the statistics at a press conference in Monrovia, Thursday, October 12th, the tally shows that the CDC is trumping the governing Unity Party, while the Unity Party is showing commanding lead in Lofa County, home of the Vice President and Nimba County.
Chairman Korkoya said that the statistics constitutes 40 percent of the total votes cast and that the results are provisional.
LATEST PRELIMINARY ELECTIONS RESULTS
The Montserrado County Senator Weah is in the lead in Montserrado, Grand Cape Mount, Gbarpolu, Bomi, and Bong Counties. Other counties that the CDC is enjoying the pull of votes include Rivercess, Rivergee, Sinoe, Grand Kru, Grand Gedeh, Maryland, and Margibi Counties.
Chairman Korkoya added that the provisional results should not be considered as the final results and no political party or individual is cloth with the authority to announce elections’ results.
Section 2.9 (g) of the new elections law of 1986, under “Power and Duties”, states that NEC would “conduct all elections for elective public offices including the chieftaincy election and all referenda and declare the winner results thereof.”
“The NEC says it has not announced any winners from the Tuesday, October 10th elections. However, the Commission will continue with the announcement of provisional results daily at its media center in Monrovia at 5pm local time.
The NEC is warning that no individual declare any verdict on the elections, adding, “Only the Commission has the legal right to announce the results.”
But Korkoya declined to read to the entire result of the 20 presidential candidates and the candidates of the House of Representatives, instead he only read the top two in some counties and top three in other counties.
