Williams Describes Liberia Supreme Court Decision
A Former Students leader at the State-run University of Liberia and winner of Maryland County District #2, Anthony F. Williams, has described the Supreme Court of Liberia decision to overturn his victory against former Speaker Bhofal Chambers as undemocratic and as an infringement on the rights and decision of the people of Pleebo Sodokan District.
Three months ago, Liberia’s elections commission declared Anthony Williams winner over then speaker of the House of Representatives, Bhofal Chambers, in Pleebo Sodoken District #2.
Chambers filed a Writ of Prohibition seeking the strong arm of the Supreme Court to halt Mr. Williams taking his seat. He cited several discrepancies, including violence and activities of the by the traditional chief priest or “country devil” on the day of the election in the district as contributing factors that scared voters away.
The Supreme Court adjudged: “That mere allegation is not proof, and allegations must be proved or substantiated particularly where allegations of fraud are made by a party, for it is evidence alone which enables a court to pronounce with certainty the matter in dispute, and that the best evidence which a case admits of must always be produced, as no evidence is sufficient that the appellant accused the NEC of errors, mistakes, irregularities or fraud, but he was under a duty to prove by substantial and cogent evidence these allegations; and
“That in instances where election violence is proven, and in order to ensure that the people are given the opportunity to exercise their constitutional political franchise, a re-run or re-count as the case permits, is necessary. Hence, the evidence having established that election violence occurred in polling places 1 and 2, Old Sodoken Town, Precinct Code #27020, District #2, Maryland County, a re-run is ordered.”
Based on the ruling of the High Court, the National Election Commission Wednesday January 17, 2024, declared champaign opened in the re-run of elections in Maryland’s District #2, and the election will be conducted on 25th , 2024
Williams noted that while he is not too prepared financially, he and his supporters are psychologically ready to take on former House Speaker Chambers, despite the numerous challenges associated with re-run couples with lack of finances.
The Supreme Court of Liberia has ordered a rerun in two polling places one and two in old Sodokan because of what it termed as elections violence during the October 10th, 2023, general and Presidential elections.
The Supreme Court noted that the decision of the National Elections Commission to have dismissed Chambers’s complaints, without considering issues raised about violence by traditional people during the polling process was unfair.
The court noted that the threat of violence by traditional people to scare away voters had a severe threat on the district elections, especially at the two polling places named in Old Sodokan, since there were narrow margins.
Old Sodokan is reportedly a stronghold of Mr. Anthony Willams, Chambers’s major contender in the Representative race of Maryland County District #2.
Anthony F. Williams expressed confidence that he would beat Bhofal Chambers face down in the re-run in old Sodokan, Maryland County.
