MONROVIA, Montserrado – The Coalition for Democratic Change has announced an unorthodox plan to conduct its own tallying and announcing of election results six hours after the close of polls, likely before the National Elections Commission.

The party first made the announcement when its deputy assistant secretary general for records and research appeared as a guest on August 12, 2017 on Capital FM. Ronald K. Mendscole said CDC had statisticians in the country who would work to compile the results of the election.

“If any party in the October 10 elections will complain of electoral fraud, it is not the CDC,” Mendscole said.

When The Bush Chicken contacted Jefferson T. Koijee, chairman of CDC’s Revolutionary National Youth League, to comment on the authenticity of Mendscole’s statement, he said the 2005 and 2011 presidential elections were rigged in favor of the ruling Unity Party, but CDC accepted the results “because of peace.”

Jefferson T. Koijee of the CDC’s Revolutionary National Youth League says his party will announce its own results for the election. Photo: Zeze Ballah

While he did not provide evidence of the rigging of the elections, Koijee said his party had learned its lessons and had now put into place the proper mechanisms to ensure that it is not repeated.

“The CDC poll watchers will be vigilant than ever before in these elections,” he added.

He said all CDC supporters have been instructed to remain at their respective polling centers after casting their votes to monitor and protect the process.

According to him, CDC has established data centers in the fifteen counties meant to tally results from the various polling centers and submit them to the central office in Montserrado.

Koijee said CDC intends to ensure that there will be no room for interference and discrepancy during the counting of ballots.

“Because of the level of preparedness and sophistication, the CDC absolutely remains unapologetic to announce the results from the October 10 presidential election,” Koijee said.

He indicated that whatsoever results that will be announced by the CDC would be validated by the tally sheets from the various polling centers across the country, noting that “documentary evidence will also be made available to the international community backed by facts.”

“I can speak with clarity, certainly and surety, that the CDC will unequivocally announce the results of the October 10 presidential election,” he said.

Koijee said anyone who intends to counter this “patriotic” and “democratic” move by CDC has something to hide.

“The CDC is the only beacon of hope for peace and stability in Liberia,” he said. “If the CDC does not announce the results of the October 10 presidential election, there will be a potential chaos.”

But other political party leaders are concerned about CDC’s plans. Kla Edward Toomey, Liberty Party’s deputy secretary general, called the CDC statement irresponsible.

According to Toomey, the National Elections Commission is the only institution authorized to conduct and announce elections results.

Toomey explained that the essence of political parties having their representatives at polling centers is to obtain an alternative documentation in an event where a party feels dissatisfied with the results. Such evidence can be used as evidence in court.

Such was the case in Kenya, where the opposition party, which was announced as the loser in the elections, used the court system to get the results annulled.

Toomey, the Liberty Party deputy secretary general, wondered what would happen if CDC announced results that were contrary to the official results announced.

“If the CDC is harboring some plan to disrupt the elections, it needs to desist,” Toomey said.

Kla Edward Toomey, Liberty Party’s deputy secretary general, called on the international community and stakeholders to immediately engage CDC about its plans. Photo: Zeze Ballah

Toomey, in cautioning his CDC counterparts, said while every party plans to win the presidential election, political actors should be very careful to avoid rolling back the gains made in solidifying the peace in Liberia.

He called on the international community, stakeholders to the electoral process, and the Elections Commission, to immediately engage the CDC about its post elections plans.

For his part, Stephen Johnson, a member of the Unity Party’s strategic communication team, described the CDC statement as “reckless.”

Johnson said any other result announced outside of the Elections Commission’s is unofficial and that “such will be a misstep by the CDC.”

“The intent of the CDC is to create chaos after the October 10 elections,” he said.

Stephen Johnson, a member of the Unity Party Strategic communication team says CDC intends to create chaos after the October 10 elections. Photo: Zeze Ballah

He said while CDC should internally have a strategy to determine the election results independently of the Elections Commission, “it is unconstitutional for the party to go ahead and announce results.”

He added, “The country has made tremendous gains and Liberians are not prepared to return to the past.”

Feature photo by Zeze Ballah