MONROVIA, Montserrado – Members of the Liberian Senate have voted to pass a bill prohibiting lawmakers from contesting any by-elections in the legislature while still serving as members of the same branch of government.
Grand Cape Mount’s Senator Varney Sherman introduced the bill. It requires lawmakers to resign their position before contesting vacancies for other elected positions.
Sinoe’s Senator Milton Teahjay raised the motion for the passage of the document following arguments among members of the Senate on the necessity the bill.
Senator Thomas Grupee of Nimba argued that a lawmaker who intends to contest in a by-election for a position in the legislature must resign to become eligible to contest the election.
Senator Jim Tornonlah of Margibi said he wants the instrument to form part of the new elections law of Liberia and the Code of Conduct for public officials.
“The bill is good, but I want for this law to form part of the electoral law of Liberia and the Code of Conduct,†he said.
Despite being passed and sent to the House of Representatives for concurrence, River Cess’ Senator Francis Paye expressed his opposition to the bill.
Paye said he is optimistic that the instrument would not be passed at the level of the lower house because it violates the rights of sitting lawmakers.
“Let me express my disappointment and lack of support to the bill introduced by Senator Cllr. Varney Sherman and supported by the other lawmakers,†he noted.
However, Sherman, who introduced the bill, said he believes that if passed into law, the instrument would safeguard against economic losses due to multiple by-elections.
He said because of the huge cost attached to elections, it would be a contradiction for a government declared by the president as “broke†to continue to fund elections for vacancies created by lawmakers who contest by-elections while still serving their terms.
Representatives in Bong and Montserrado have registered to contest in the senatorial by-elections. Winning the elections for them will create more vacancies in the House of Representatives. The incumbent lawmakers running are Bong’s third district representative, Josiah Marvin Cole, Rep. Saah Joseph of Monterrado’s 13th district, and Rep. Yekeh Kolubah of Montserrado’s 10th district.
A constitutional provision requires the National Elections Commission to conduct by-elections to fill vacancies in the legislature not later than 90 days after being notified by the legislature. However, elections for the two vacancies create in the Senate by the election of President George Weah and Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor, who both previously served in the Senate, are yet to take place, past the constitutional deadline.
According to NEC, it since received notification from the Senate about the two vacancies on February 13 but was unable to conduct the two by-elections in the constitutional timeframe because of lack of the required funding from the government.
NEC has set July 31 as the new date for the by-elections to fill the two vacant seats in the Senate and campaigning is ongoing.
Gbatemah Senah contributed to this article. Featured photo by Moses Bailey.
