Liberia Electoral Commission chairman resigns

Mr James Fromoyan.
The Chairman of the Liberian Electoral Commission (NEC)

Liberia Electoral Commission chairman resigns

The Chairman of the Liberian Electoral Commission (NEC), Mr James Fromoyan on Sunday in Monrovia resigned his appointment, following an outcry over the integrity of the commission.

James Fromayan told newsmen "I chose to step down for the sake of Liberia and so that (challenger Winston Tubman's) CDC [Congress for Democratic Change] would not have an excuse not to participate in the run-off."

According reports, Fromoyan’s resignation is coming barely eight days to a run-off presidential election, slated for Nov. 8.  

Liberian media reported that the commission’s chairman tendered his resignation letter on Sunday afternoon to President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.

The Catholic Veritas Radio said Fromoyan resigned his position after contradicting himself in a letter he sent to the leading opposition party, Congress for Democratic Change (CDC).

The Confusion

The commission had on Oct. 25 announced Johnson-Sirleaf’s Unity Party (UP) as having won the first round of the elections, but had at the same time sent a similar letter to CDC that it won in the first round.

Consequently, Fromoyan announced the suspension of the Director of Public Affairs of the Commission, Mr Bobby Livingstone on Oct. 28, over the blunder, but this could not silence public outcry on the matter.
Meanwhile, Livingstone, who has denied knowledge of the letter, has threatened to take Fromoyan to court.

However, CDC presidential candidate Winston Tubman had last week called for a restructuring of the commission as a precondition for participating in the run-off elections.

Replacement

Media reports from Liberia, posted online, said Elizabeth Nelson, Fromoyan’s deputy, will take charge of the commission pending the appointment of a substantive head.  

NAN/Adekusibe/Ekata