MONROVIA, LIBERIA-The Supreme Court of Liberia has overturned the decision of the Board of Commissioners of the National Elections Commission (NEC) to announce the results of the December 8, 2020 Senatorial Elections in Gbarpolu County.
The Court on Wednesday, March 24, 2021, said:” This is in keeping with Chapter Two, Section 2.3 of the Elections Law of Liberia.”
The Court said the NEC lacks the jurisdiction to investigate the criminality surrounding elections matter.
According to the ruling, the Ministry of Justice has the sole authority to conduct investigations that border around criminal matters, and not the NEC.
The Highest Court said that violence during elections is a serious and grave matter.
Prior to the Court’s ruling, Cllr. Arthur Johnson, Lawyer of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) Candidate Alfred Koiwood, claimed that the independent Candidate, Gbotoe Kanneh, and her supporters instigated violence by seizing some ballot boxes and unleashing the Country Devil to intimidate rival voters.
Wednesday’s ruling means Gbotoe Kanneh is set to be formally announced and certificated as the second female senator of the 54th National Legislature, alongside Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence of Grand Bassa County