Liberia: ECOWAS cautions opposition on boycott of presidential elections

Liberia: ECOWAS cautions opposition on boycott of presidential elections

ECOWAS Commission has asked a Liberian opposition party to reconsider its decision to boycott the run off presidential elections slated for Nov. 8.

Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), the leading opposition party had threatened to boycott the runoff demanding the resignation of the electoral Commission’s Chairman among others.

The result

The opposition's candidate, Winston Tubman (CDC), polled 33 per cent of votes in the first round of the presidential elections, while President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf had 44 per cent of the votes.

A senator and former war lord, Prince Yomi Johnson, who polled 11 per cent of the votes, has since sided with Johnson-Sirleaf for the runoff.

Appeal

A statement issued by the commission said: “The ECOWAS Commission wishes to make yet another appeal to the leadership of the CDC, as well as all the other political parties, to place the national interest above all partisan considerations.

The statement also said: The political parties should ensure a peaceful electoral process for the sake of national and regional stability.''

The commission admonished all parties to refrain from all acts that could destabilize the fragile political and security environment.

The decision

According to the statement, made available to newsmen, the ECOWAS Commission said the run-off election would go ahead as planned, as long as there was more than one competing candidate. 

The commission said it would also endorse the results of the process, if certified credible by observers.

The Liberian electoral commission chairman, James Fromoyan has resigned his position on Sunday, following a public outcry on the integrity of the leadership.

NAN/ Adekusibe/Ekata