24 October 2017

LIBERIA MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Evil awaits runoff, Source: The New Dawn

The opposition Liberty Party (LP) leader, Cllr. Charles Brumskine is warning that the alleged irregularities and fraud that stripped him of victory in the just-ended first round of elections could spill over to the November 7 presidential runoff.

After filing a complaint with the Board of Commissioners at the National Elections Commission (NEC) on Monday, Cllr. Brumskine told a press conference at his party headquarters that Liberia is reportedly engulfed with evil pregnancy, suggesting that such evil should be prayed against strongly so that it can be aborted at the early stage.

Having obtained 9.6 percent of the total votes cast, the LP leader is contesting the NEC official results from the first round of the polls and is demanding a rerun. The defeated LP presidential candidate is claiming that the entire October 10 elections were characterized by fraud and irregularities that he claims denied the Liberian people of their desired results. Read more

Brumskine makes wide allegations, Source: The New Dawn

The defeated opposition Liberty Party (LP) presidential candidate, Cllr. Charles Brumskine says the entire 10 October elections were characterized by fraud, citing analyses of some of the record of counts, which he says he has attached to a complaint filed with the National Elections Commission (NEC) on Monday.

"Complainants say that this incident clearly suggests that in many of the places where poll watchers or observers did not return to the place where the ballot boxes were held, the Presiding Officers could have engaged in such similar conduct and manipulated the votes," the LP alleges.

Official results released by the NEC following the October 10 polls put Cllr. Brumskine at third place with 9.6 percent of the votes cast, far behind the main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change with 38.4 percent, and ruling Unity Party (UP) with 28.8 percent.

The NEC has already declared a runoff election between the two leading parties scheduled for 7 November, since none of the 20 presidential candidates could win the polls with 50 percent plus one vote as required by the Liberian Constitution. But Cllr. Brumskine is requesting the NEC to annul its first-round results announced to the public and conduct a rerun of the entire polls due to alleged fraud and irregularities. Read more

Political ingrate, Source: The New Dawn

Liberty Party (LP) Montserrado County Electoral District #10 defeated candidate Kanio Bai Gbala’s decision to singlehandedly express support for the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) in the impending runoff election has received sharp criticism from LP vice chairman for political affairs, Darius Dillon describing him as an ingrate for leaving his party’s unresolved challenge against results of the 10 October elections to pledge support to the CDC…

Speaking on a local radio talk show, Mr. Dillon explains that the LP would not declare support for any of the candidate in the runoff, while challenging the results from the polls at the same time, noting that doing so could undermine its claims against the process. Read more

Nuquay faces mass rejection in Margibi, Source: The New Dawn

House Speaker James Emmanuel Nuquay, running mate of Vice President Joseph Boakai of the ruling Unity Party (UP) is coming under increased rejection from citizens of his native Margibi County. Nuquay seems very unpopular with his people for various reasons, and they are coming back to pay him for carrying such posture despite being a leader from the county.

His poor relationship with the electorates from the county is evidenced by the governing UP’s dismal performance there during the 10 October elections obtaining 29,149 or 26.9 percent of the votes against the main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) of Senator George Weah with 47,212 or 43.6 percent.

Reports from the county say church leaders on Sunday held a reconciliation meeting between Speaker Nuquay and the ruling party Representative for Margibi Electoral District#4, Ben Fofana. Read more

Nimba superintendent, others express support for Weah, Source: INSIGHT

Speaking Saturday in Saclepea, Nimba County when he expressed support for the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), the superintendent of the county, Dorr Cooper called on the people of Nimba to also support the CDC in the runoff election slated for 7 November. Superintendent Cooper told hundreds of his kinsmen that the ruling Unity Party (UP) presidential candidate, Vice President Joseph Boakai does not deserve any vote from the Nimba people. At the same time, the Insight said several auxiliary groups in the county have also pledged to support the CDC.

Civil society group hails Prince Johnson, Source: The New Dawn

Addressing journalists this week in Paynesville, the national chairman of the Executive Committee of the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations, Jackson Jlateh Summerville says it welcomed the report of negotiation between Senator, Prince Johnson and the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) ahead of the 7 November runoff presidential election. The group at the same time called on the National Elections Commission (NEC) to correct any mistake it made at the first round of the elections and ensure irregularities are avoided.

IG Coleman urges Liberians to stay away from violence, Source: The New Dawn

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Gregory Coleman is calling on all Liberians to stay away from all forms of violence in this election period. Speaking Sunday in Brewerville outside Monrovia at a community policing meeting, IG Coleman said the police are here to keep the peace, urging all Liberians to stay away from violence.

The police chief used the gathering to emphasize that during the period of the elections, there will be no unauthorized protest in the country, calling on all peaceful citizens to observe the law.

According to IGP, there is a law that calls for peaceful assembly and the same law gives steps on how to use those rights, adding that the police will protect every step. Coleman notes that he has heard the cry of the people of that community to increase security presence there, and promises that security will be increased in the area. The IGP says training has been going on for community watch teams in various communities through the intervention of the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). Read more

“We Must Accept the Wrong” – Gbehzohngar Findley Apologizes for Government’s Failure, Source: The INQUIRER

Former President Pro-Tempore of the Senate, Gbehzohngar Findley says instead of blaming President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for not supporting Vice President Joseph Boakai, those who benefitted from the administration must also accept the failure of the government.

Appearing on a local radio talk show Monday in Monrovia, Mr. Findley said there were some positives and negatives of the Sirleaf-led administration that no one, especially those who work in her administration can escape. The former Grand Bassa lawmaker said the government failed in some areas but that cannot be blamed only on the president as the vice president also benefitted and is still enjoying the amenities.

Media Center Chief Files Lawsuit for FPA Editor against PUL Veep, Source: New DEMOCRAT

This New Democrat reports that the OiC of the Liberia Media Center (LMC), Atty. Lamii Kpargoi has issued a libel lawsuit on behalf of FrontPage Africa’s managing editor, Rodney Sieh against the vice president of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL), Octavin Williams requesting the court to award USD100,000 as general damages to Mr. Sieh.

Atty. Kpargoi in the legal suit issued on Thursday at the Civil Law Court said on Friday, 6 October 2017, the defendant published in The Nation Times two separate libelous allegations that stated: “Sued for USD100,000, Rodney Sieh Linked to Financial Fraud in the US.” The second headline read: “Rodney Sieh Indicted for blackmailing… Unity Party Blasts White Collar Extortionist.” The LMC OiC said as a result of Williams’ allegation of extortion and blackmail against his client published in The Nation Times, Sieh’s character and reputation have been maligned and his name has been associated with criminal activities without proof.

SUP Protests to Extend Registration, Source: The INQUIRER

The University of Liberia’s vanguard Student Unification Party (SUP) Monday protested in demand for the administration of the state-run university to extend the registration process of the first semester academic 2017/2018, this paper reports.

Normal academic activities came to a standstill when SUP members disrupted learning processes because the registration process leading to the current first semester ended last week Saturday when the UL Student Union (ULSU) had just come up with scholarship listing. The SUP protest was intended to draw government’s attention regarding the registration situation at the university.

Cuban Embassy here wants U.S. blockade lifted, Source: The New Dawn

The Charge d’Affaires of the Cuban Embassy in Liberia, Yordenis Despaigne Vera, says the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba for almost 60 years still persists and continues to cause suffering to the Cuban people. Mr. Vera laments that the blockade is the most important obstacle to Cuba’s economic development.

Speaking to journalists Monday at the Cuban Embassy in Congo Town, the Cuban diplomat notes that on 16 June 2017, US President Donald Trump signed the National Security Presidential Memorandum on strengthening US policy towards Cuba. He explains that this directive establishes a new policy that proclaims as one of its main objectives, tightening of the blockade against the island. Read more

It would be “Good for All to Become Baha’is” – SRSG Farid Zarif says, Source: Daily OBSERVER

Farid Zarif, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG), over the weekend hailed the teachings of the Baha’i Faith, saying it would be “good if all humankind become Baha’is.” Zarif made the statement when he served as keynote speaker on the occasion marking the celebration of the 200th birth anniversary of the founder of the Baha’i Faith – Baha’u’llah, which was observed in Monrovia. He said that the teachings of the faith of the new manifestation of God are unique, “because they present hope and solutions to the world’s problems.” Read more

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ON LIBERIA

Liberian Journalist Endorses Weah Presidential Run, Source: GNN Liberia

A Liberian  journalist and political commentator, Al Jerome Anastas Chede Sr. has endorsed Coalition for Democratic Change’s Senator George Weah for President, calling him “a man with extraordinary gifts of leadership and character.” Chede said: “I can’t wait to tell his story and dismiss all those lies out there about him. We grew up together as underprivileged kids who knew the true definition of struggle.” He continued: “I’ve always marveled at Weah’s love for country, his grit, and grace and his relentless desire to change Liberia for hope.” Read more

Analyzing the Sabu Unit and the Distorted Narrative of Change of the CDC, Source: Modern Ghana

The razzmatazz is in full swing and the politicians are undercutting each other in the last bid to decide the winner of the election, as the presidential election goes to a runoff between the ruling Unity Party and the Coalition for Democratic Change. The two sides obtained the most votes in the first round of the polls, but neither side bagged the fifty percent plus one threshold of the absolute majority to attain a win. Adherents of each side are purveying that their side will win, which has engendered a convoluted whoop-de-doo on social media as well as in the print and electronic media.

The ruling Unity Party trades behind the Coalition for Democratic Change as per the conclusive result of the first round. The ruling party is faced with the daunting challenge of overturning a ten percent deficit and subsequently wooing the people to swell their number to gain a victory. Conversely, the elements of the CDC pontificates about a walk in the park as the result from eleven of the fifteen counties in the first round is a signal that the people are fixated on gambling with the governance of the state to them. Read more

Disclaimer
 

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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