MONROVIA, Montserrado – The National Media Council of Liberia has requested to meet with the Press Union of Liberia’s disqualified presidential candidate, Facia Harris, and members of the union’s elections committee for a hearing.

The council disclosed in a release issued on Friday that it had received a complaint from Harris on October 26 requesting the body to intervene in the matter of her disqualification from the ongoing PUL elections.

“The NMC asks parties to the matter to come with documents to support their claims,” the council said in the release.

The PUL elections committee headed by the Senate’s Press Director, Jarlawah Tonpoe, released the list of qualified candidates for the elections scheduled to take place on November 9.

From the total of 10 candidates who applied to contest in the elections, nine were qualified, while Harris’ candidacy was denied because of her current role as director for outreach and sensitization at the Independent Information Commission, which the committee said is a public relations function.

According to the committee, its justification was based on the union’s constitution, which prevents “public relations officers” from taking office in the union.

Harris has described the committee’s decision to disqualify her candidacy as “shocking and unfortunate.” She questioned the interpretation of her role at the Independent Information Commission as a “public relations officer,” noting that her role was more about outreach and that the Independent Information Commission promoted similar goals as the Press Union.

Meanwhile, the media council has also called on candidates in the elections and their supporters to continue to be civil in their exchanges and refrain from inflammatory statements throughout the electoral process.

The National Media Council was established in 2017 for the purpose of self-regulating media accountability and professional conduct in Liberia, pursuant to Press Union’s journalistic code of ethics. It is currently headed by former PUL president Elizabeth Hoff.

Featured photo courtesy of pixabay.com