By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor
Rerun is likely in Maryland County Electoral District # 2 representative race as fresh evidence points to a systematic scheme potentially impacting the integrity of the polls in that part of the country.
There are accounts of voter intimidation, interference and ballot stuffing. In an audio the Oracle News Daily has accessed, a senior election staff is heard confessing to manipulating votes and how the county election system was compromised.
The number of people who cast ballots on voting day outnumbered the National Elections Commission established threshold for polling station, elections authorities’ official record of return shows.
Results in the Old Sodoken, Pleebo area, the heartland of the District’s electoral crisis cannot tally, leaving a disturbing variance, which evince apparent vote tempering.
On Oct. 10, voting day Country Devil’ unceremoniously appeared in Old Sodoken town igniting fear and pushing polling staff and observers to flee for safety.
The dreadful mask appearance disrupted vote count in the town where results from two polling places were plagued with series of controversies.
Coalition for Democratic Change’s Poll Watcher identified as Steven Russel, alleged in a complaint filed with the elections body that they were disallowed by the “country devil” and some “traditional bush masters” to monitor the counting and tallying process.
The Oracle could not connect with the ‘country devils’ for comment. NEC is probing the matter. Based on the outcome a rerun could be ordered.
Incumbent House Speaker Dr. Bhofal Chambers faced a tough race to return to the capitol against an unlikely challenger Anthony Williams of the Collaborating Political Parties.
Williams obtained 8,158 votes while Speaker Chambers who was seeking a fourth consecutive term won 8,122, a slight margin of 36 votes.
Liberia Council of Churches and the Women Situation Room have urged NEC to
to investigate growing allegations of electoral mal practices and misconduct that could compromise the integrity of data that are being released to the public.
“After acclamation of a peaceful elections, we do not want to have aspersion cast on us,” they said in a joint statement.
The two institutions urged candidate not satisfied with the results to pursue the legal mechanism.
