By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor
The Supreme Court of Liberia has ordered the National Elections Commission to conduct a rerun of the October 10, 2023, Representatives Elections in two polling places, Precinct Code #27020 in Old Sodokan, Electoral District #2, Maryland County.
The ruling of the Supreme Court came as a result of a complaint filed before that legal august body by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr. Bhofal Chambers.
Dr. Chambers had filed for a rerun due to what he termed as mal electoral practices meted against him by elections’ magistrate and workers of the National Elections Commission in favor of the Alternative National Congress’s Anthony Williams.
Both the National Elections Commission hearing officers and board of commissioners had ruled in favor of Candidate Williams, but not been deterred, Dr. Chambers took the matter to the Supreme Court about two weeks for legal redress.
The ruling of the Supreme Court indicates that the decision of the National Elections Commission to have dismissed Chambers’ contention, without considering issues raised about violence by traditional people during the polling process, was unfair and unjustifiable.
Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene Yuoh ruled yesterday, January 12, 2024, that the National Elections Commission should conduct a rerun at two polling places only, polling places number one and two of Polling Precinct Code: 27020, in Old Pleebo Sodokan District.
The High Court noted that the threat of violence by traditional people to scare away voters had a severe threat on the district elections, especially at the two polling places named, in Old Sodokan, since there were narrow margins.
