18 October 2017

LIBERIA MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

ANC to Take NEC to Court, Sources: All Africa and Daily OBSERVER and FrontPage Africa

The standard bearer of the Alternative National Congress (ANC), Alexander Cummings, is contemplating possible legal action against the National Elections Commission (NEC) as his team of legal and fraud experts are putting together every piece of information and evidence that would culminate into a sensible case against the electoral body.

The ANC's lawsuit would come in the wake of reported or possible fraud into the October 10 presidential and legislative elections; and by that, would be seeking redress against the NEC's many irregularities that greeted the voting process, such as stolen ballot boxes, mix-matched tally sheets, to centers moved with no notice to voters and the intimidation of poll watchers, among others.

"While I am thankful for a peaceful process and the impressive turn-out of voters, I am very concerned about the integrity and subsequent validity of the recent election outcomes," Cummings said at a press conference in Monrovia Tuesday. "I am also disturbed by the reported thousands of Liberians that were denied their constitutional right to vote due to inefficiencies and negligence in the administration of the process," Mr. Cummings said.

"From stolen ballot boxes, to mix-matched tally sheets, to centers moved with no notice to voters, to the intimidation of poll watchers, and an unprecedented number of both invalid votes and turned-away voters, it is clear that our election process lacked the capacity, preparedness and consistent application of the rules to ensure that the votes of the Liberian people were protected with a guarantee of results that's the true will of the Liberian people," the ANC standard bearer noted. Read more

Boakai, Weah Confirmed for Nov. 7 Run-off, Sources: Daily OBSERVER, The New Dawn and VOA

Henry Flomo, National Elections Commission (NEC) communications director, has confirmed to the Voice of America that Senator George Weah will face Vice President Joseph Boakai in the second round, which the commission has scheduled for November 7.

Mr. Flomo said neither of the two men got more than 50 percent of the votes, which is required by the Liberian Constitution to outright win the presidency. Senator Weah has garnered about 39.0 percent, while Vice President Boakai has obtained 29.1 percent of the votes counted so far.

The second round winner will succeed President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s first female president, who is stepping down after two terms. Read more

ANC Vice Standard Bearer Highly Sought by UP, CDC in Runoff Election, Source: FrontPage Africa

Ambassador Jeremiah Sulunteh, the vice standard bearer of the Alternative National Congress (ANC), could be the kingmaker in Bong County during the run-off election. Sulunteh’s ANC finished third in Bong County with 8,369 or 5.5 percent, behind the ruling Unity Party (UP) 51,536, or 34.4 percent; and the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) 61, 525, or 40.6 percent of the votes. Both the CDC and UP are courting Ambassador Sulunteh for the runoff.

On 11 October, CDC vice standard bearer, Senator Jewel Howard Taylor sent Sulunteh a text for his birthday. It reads: “I hope and pray that God will strengthen you so you can see many birthdays to come. Hope we can work together in the near future.”

Senator Taylor also told FrontPage Africa last week that she will begin discussions with Sulunteh to encourage him to support the CDC in the run-off election. “Sulunteh would be a significant addition to the CDC campaign in Bong County. He is a respected person in Bong County that can do a lot for the CDC in Bong and Margibi counties,” the CDC vice standard bearer said. Read more

Elections Rerun In Nimba Districts #3, #4, Sources: FAAPA and LINA

The electorates in upper Nimba County Electoral Districts #3 and #4 Tuesday went to the polls in a re-run of voting in the two areas following problems that led the National Election Commission (NEC) to suspend voting on October 10.

Upper Nimba County elections magistrate Prince Mombia said the re-runs at the Bongarplay Town Public School polling center in District #4 and the Dulay Town polling center in District #3 are the direct results of complaints of alleged elections irregularities during the October 10 polls.

Mombia told the Liberia News Agency Tuesday that NEC had nullified the results from those polling centers following the complaints.

According to him, upon noticing that one of the four centers was not opened for voting, some citizens without making inquiry went wild and began violently protesting for its opening.

He said that led to the disruption of the entire voting in Bongarplay Town, adding that the results were nullified in Dulay Town due to complaints from citizens that the presiding officer assigned at the polling place at the close of the poll was caught stuffing some ballot papers into the ballot box.

Mr. Mombia disclosed that the presiding officer was on the very day of the incident arrested by officers of the Liberia National Police and is currently being investigated.

CDC to Dominate Lower House, Source: Daily OBSERVER

Provisional results released so far by the National Elections Commission (NEC) on the October 10 presidential and legislative elections put the number of representatives the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) has won at 21, ahead of the governing Unity Party (UP), which obtained 17 of the 73 seats.

Other elected lawmakers representing various political parties and the independent candidates, constitute 11 of the elected representatives, followed by five that were elected on the ticket of the People’s Unification Party (PUP), while the Liberty Party (LP) and the All Liberian Party (ALP) won three each. Thirteen (13) others are representing various parties, except the Alternative National Congress (ANC), which did not secure a single seat.

If the provisional results remain as is, it would mean that the CDC will dominate the House of Representatives, a political observer pointed out to the Daily Observer late Tuesday. Read more

ANC Issues Statement On Liberia’s Electoral Outcome, Source: GNN Liberia

The standard bearer of the Alternative National Congress (ANC), Alexander Cummings, the political party that overwhelmed the just ended October 10 presidential and legislative elections by pulling huge votes, Tuesday officially issued a statement on the outcome of the elections at a news conference. Full Statement

Parties crack, Source: The New Dawn

The third consecutive run-off between the ruling Unity Party (UP) and the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) is expected to show visible cracks within the ranks and files of dozens of opposition political parties as to which candidate to support in the impending run-off.

Already, executives of the United People’s Party (UPP) and its standard bearer, Mr. MacDonald Wento appear to be at loggerheads following the latter’s declaration of support to the CDC days after preliminary results show that a run-off between the CDC and UP is likely.

UPP national chairman, Dr. T. Q. Harris told The New Dawn Tuesday that the party is yet to declare support for any party in the run-off. Dr. Harris said any decision taken by the party will be made known to the public through a written press statement. Former Grand Kru Senator Blamo Nelson, who is also an executive of the UPP, amplified Dr. Harris’ comment, saying the national chairman’s statement is the current position of the party.

Asked if the comment suggests that the party is not in support of the declaration made by Mr. Wento? Both men declined further comment. But their statements clearly suggest that the declaration made by Mr. Wento, a former stewart of the CDC was unilateral. The UPP standard bearer endorsed the CDC just as preliminary results show an imminent presidential run-off expected between the UP and the CDC. Read more

Timothy Weah: “It Will Be the Best Thing for My Dad to Lead Liberia”, Source: Daily OBSERVER

With a possible run-off election scheduled for November, the son of the standard bearer of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), George Weah, says it would be the best thing for Liberians to elect his father as president of the country at the upcoming November 7 poll. Timothy Weah told the BBC Monday that his father is going through a lot of pressure from the media and the people, “so I just said, “Dad, you are the best; just keep on doing what you are doing, and I know you are going to win this time.”

The 17-year-old American said his dad loves and has helped Liberia, so becoming the next leader of the country would be the best thing. Timothy, a forward for the Paris Saint-Germain youth team, further told the BBC, “This time, I feel they will get their votes’ worth and he is going to lead Liberia to a very bright future.” Read more

‘Do Away With Divisive Politics Post Elections’ -Defeated candidate warns, Source: Daily OBSERVER

A candidate for representative of Montserrado County Electoral District #6 who, judging by the National Elections Commission (NEC) results reported so far from the district, is set to lose to Samuel Enders, has warned Liberians to desist from what he calls the ‘Congo-Native Liberian’ divisive politics.

Reginald Taylor’s warning comes in the wake of his observation during the elections that candidates and their supporters were using the divisive ‘Congo-Native’ rhetoric, which he said has the potential to cause division among people, most especially during the critical presidential election. Mr. Taylor stressed that “regardless of our political differences, Liberia remains our national identity.”

He said: “Liberians elect leaders based on tribal lines. If Liberia must move forward, then Liberians should vote on the basis of their children’s future rather than bringing division among themselves.”

Although the general elections have come and gone, Taylor said it is important “to flag some illnesses in the Liberian society that have been creating problems over the years,” adding that “it is about time that Liberians put away tribalism.” Read more

FAO Builds Global Capacity To Tackle Migration Problems, Sources: FAAPA and LINA

The United Nations FAO is building the capacities of countries in the global community to address migration problem around the world says FAO country representative, Marc Abdala when he addressed the program marking World Food Day at the Ministry of Agriculture Program Management Unit (PMU) in Fendell outside Monrovia recently. The program was held under the theme: “Change the Future of migration, invest in food security and rural development.”

Mr. Abdala pointed out hunger, the lack of food security and poverty, among others, as a factor that cause global migration which, he said, FAO has an obligation to fight and promote sustainable use of natural resources.

“FAO has a unique role to play in reducing rural migration in view of its experience in supporting the creation of better conditions and resilient livelihoods in rural areas,” he added. Read More

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ON LIBERIA

Mother worried about deportation drowned infant, 5-year-old boy, police say, Source: Delaware Online

A 30-year-old Wilmington woman, who called city police early Monday worried about her immigration status after her boyfriend was detained by federal authorities, has been charged in the deaths of her infant son and a 5-year-old boy in her care.

Police were called later that morning by the same woman and found the children drowned in a bathtub in a Trinity Vicinity-area apartment located in the 800 block of W. Ninth St. in Wilmington.

Kula Pelima was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder. She was being held at Baylor Women's Correctional Institution after failing to post $2 million cash bail, Chief Robert Tracy said at a Tuesday press briefing.

"She was concerned about her immigration status," Tracy said of Pelima's initial call to police at about 3:45 a.m. Monday. "She's a Liberian immigrant that came to the country in 1997, and she was worried about what could happen to her because her boyfriend ... [the father of both boys] was picked up also by the feds on some immigration issues on Oct. 6." Read more

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This media summary consists of selected local media articles for the information of UN personnel. The public distribution of this media summary is a courtesy service extended by UNMIL on the understanding that the choice of articles included is exclusive, and the contents do not represent anything other than a selection of articles likely to be of interest to a United Nations readership. The inclusion of articles in this summary does not imply endorsement by UNMIL.

 

 

 

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