By Our Staff Writer
MONROVIA: Since the end of the Liberian civil war twenty years ago, the country will go to the polls tomorrow, Tuesday, October 10, 2023, to elect its new corps of leadership for the fourth times.
After Charles Taylor’s erstwhile dictatorial regime collapsed in August 2003, Liberia held its first democratic elections with Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf becoming the country’s first elected female President. Sirleaf’s election then, also made her the First Female President in Africa.
Madam Johnson-Sirleaf governed the country for twelve years uninterrupted: 2005-2011 and from 2011 to 2017, before the then opposition group, Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), of Football Legend, George Manneh Weah, defeated Madam Johnson-Sirleaf’s then Vice President, Ambassador Joseph Nyuma Boakai, with 64% votes in a fierce political contest.
Weah is now incumbent in this year’s Presidential and Legislative elections that are marred by political tension and sporadic violence between the two main rivals- the ruling CDC of President Weah and the opposition Unity Party (UP), of former Vice President Boakai.
As the two-month intense election campaign activities ended on Sunday, October 8, 2023, over 2 million citizens across the country are expected to go to their respective polling centers to vote for their preferred candidates.
This Tuesday, October 10, 2023, Liberians will gather at various polling places across the country to elect a new president, 73 Representatives and 15 Senators who are expected to steer the affairs of the country.
The National Elections Commission has certified twenty presidential candidates, many of whom are opposition politicians.
Former Vice President Joseph Nyuma Boakai is main opposition candidate, wanting to unseat incumbent President Weah at the polls.
Incumbent President George Weah is running again on the ticket of the governing Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), along with his Vice-Running mate, Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor.
By all accounts, the rhetoric, on the streets, has hit triple exclamation point, with shouts about purported cheating and all manners of imagined shenanigans.
“Wait,” says Joseph Boakai’s camp –“one round victory”. “Wait”; say President Weah allies –“one round victory.” “Wait,” say elections officials: “We’ll ensure free, fair and transparent elections.”
But, many Liberians have had it with waiting; waiting for a decision that borders on the country’s future.
The common message from the people across the political and cultural divide is united, for once: We want peace.
The impatience is contributing to some curious scenes. On Johnson Street in central Monrovia, a man watching anti-Weah marchers as they shouted, “We are waiting for Tuesday,” reared back and delivered his own retort: “Tuesday coming you fool!.”
Liberians, at least those with voting cards, are set to exercise their democratic franchise tomorrow, Tuesday, Election Day, as called for by the 1986 Constitution of Liberia.
Article-1 of the nation’s supreme law indicates that: “All power is inherent in the people. All free governments are instituted by their authority and for their benefit and they have the right to alter and reform the same when their safety and happiness so required. In order to ensure democratic government which responds to the wishes of the governed, the people shall have the right at such period, and in such manner as provided for under this constitution, to cause their public servants to leave office and to fill vacancies by regular elections and appointment.”
This Tuesday polls will mark the country’s fourth post-war democratic elections.
For tomorrow’s elections, there are over 200 local and international observers deployed nationwide in the 15 Counties of the country to monitor and observe the process against potential frauds, and irregularities and other challenges.
For a country that is reeling from the impact of fourteen years of bloody civil conflict, coupled with the outbreak of two deadly epidemics- EBOLA and COVIC-19 that have immensely affected the economy, analysts say, the election is another opportunity for Liberians to make the right choices for growth and progress.
Some political commentators are of the view that Tuesday elections are all about a leadership that will improve the living condition of the citizens through governance, proper accountability, rule of law and tax reduction and road network among other pressing concerns of health and education.
Currently, incumbent President Weah has been campaigning on his “deliverables” which include free education, road connectivity, improved economy, construction of new health facilities, free press among other national development projects that are ongoing around the country.
But, the opposition community has been critical of the CDC-led administration for alleged corruption, lawlessness, bad governance, poor health-sanitation environment and high taxation.
Howbeit, among other things any candidate emerging as the choice of the people as President after these elections will need to rise above juicy words and address issues of justice and respect for the rule of law, corruption, economy, health, education and infrastructure for sustained developments.
The Presidential candidates who say they are championing the cause of the ordinary people and knock-out vices that have a hand brake on their under-development include: incumbent President, George Manneh Weah-CDC; Joseph Nyuma Boakai-opposition UP; Alexander Benedict Cummings-Collaborating Political Parties (CPP); Tiawan Saye Gongloe–Liberian People’s Party (LPP); Simeon Freeman-Movement for Progressive Change (MPC); Lusinee F. Kamara-All Liberian Coalition Party (ALCOP).
Others are Clarence K. Moniba–Liberia National Union (LINU); Sara Beysolow Nyanti–African Liberation League (ALL); William Wiah Tuider–Democratic National Alliance (DNA); Joshua Tom Turner–New Liberia Party (NPL).
Also contesting for the high office in the land are Luther N. Yorfee-Liberia Rebuilding Party (LRP); Jeremiah Z. Whapoe-Vision1 for Liberia Transformation ; Robert Franz Morris –IND; Richard Saye Miller-Liberians For Prosperity; Bendu Alehma Kromah–IND; Sheikh A. Kouyateh-Liberia First Movement; Alexander N. Kollie -Reformers National Congress; David GB Kiamu-Democratic People’s Party Of Liberia; Allen R. Brown -Liberia Restoration Party; and Edward W. Appleton-Grassroots Development Movement.
Accordingly, the country’s electoral law indicates that during the race, only Presidential candidate with 50 plus one percent of the total valid votes would be declared winner as Liberia’s next president.
Anything short of that percentage will lead to a Presidential run-off election. Emerging candidates in the run-off will also need the support of the candidate who may take the third, fourth and fifth places.
