MONROVIA, Montserrado – The National Elections Commission has announced August 28 as the date for the rerun of the by-election in Montserrado’s 15th district, as ordered by the commission’s independent hearing panel on August 14.
According to the NEC, its pronouncement followed the decision of lawyers representing candidate Abu Kamara of the Coalition for Democratic Change to withdraw a notice to appeal a decision by NEC’s Board of Commissioners. The board had ruled on August 21 to affirm a previous ruling of the hearing chamber calling for a rerun of the by-election in six precincts, which amounted to 20 of the 94 polling centers in the district.
The board’s ruling followed a hearing into the appeal file by Kamara’s lawyer against the panel’s decision for the rerun.
NEC disclosed in a release that its chairman, Jerome Korkoya, dissented with the decision of his colleagues and did not sign the document. His co-chair, Sarah Toe, who was absent, also did not sign.
However, Kamara had hoped his appeal would have overturned the initial ruling. His lawyers took exception to the ruling and announced they would appeal to the Supreme Court in its October sitting.
However, NEC said Kamara had decided to abandon the appeal. The commission said this move has provided it with the legal right to conduct the rerun of the election in the disputed precincts in the district.
Meanwhile, the commission is urging political parties, candidates, and supporters to avoid violence and conduct themselves in accordance with the law.
NEC says it will work closely with all relevant institutions, especially the Liberia National Police, for the smooth conduct of the rerun.
Featured photo by Zeze Ballah
