MONROVIA, LIBERIA-All officials of Government aspiring to contest in the 2023 October 10 Presidential and Legislative Elections are being given a three-week ultimatum to resign.

The ultimatum followed a mandate from President George Weah informing officials aspiring to contest any elective position should resign on or before April 7.

President Weah’s mandate is contained in Executive Order Number 117 issued Tuesday, March 14, 2023 is consistent with amended section 5.2 and 10.2 of the 2014 Code of Conduct enacted, approved and printed in handbills on December 29, 2022.

The President, in an Executive Mansion release issued recently, recognized that the objectives of the Code of Conduct is to dissociate the Judiciary duty of trust, integrity and loyalty owed by public officials to the people from the personal desires to contest elections to the expense of public resources.

The Liberian Leader, however, acknowledged that with about seven months to the conduct of elections the amended Act cannot prevent public officials from contesting in said elections.

According to President Weah, the Liberian Government still has compelling interest to create what he called a level plain political field to prevent Liberia’s competitive politics from unfair and undue advantages.

The Constitution vests the President Executive Power to issue Executive Orders in the public interest, either to meet an emergency or to correct situations that cannot wait the lengthy legislative process.