By Lincoln G. Peters
Opposition Unity Party (UP) presidential candidate Amb. Joseph Nyumah Boakai has alluded to the possibility of a presidential runoff between him and incumbent President George Manneh Weah.
Ahead of the National Elections Commission (NEC) releasing the full tally report, the former Liberian vice president addressed his supporters at a press conference on Thursday, 19 October 2023, having seen majority of the progressive tally reports.
Both men are sharing close percentages from the total votes counted so far, and a re-run ordered by the NEC this Friday in Nimba County does not show prospects of preventing a run-off.
A presidential candidate must obtain 50 percent plus one of the total valid votes to be declared a winner. 20 presidential candidates contested in the October 2023 polls.
Delivering his post-election address at the UP-Rescue Center in Monrovia, Amb. Boakai said there is no doubt that the majority of the Liberian people who stood in lines on Election Day, Tuesday, 10 October 2023 went to exercise their rights to eject President Weah from the presidency.
He said Liberians had rejected Mr. Weah for his alleged dismal performance over the past six years during which his party, the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) ruled the country.
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โโThrough their votes, the Liberian people have presented to President Weah and his CDC a reality that they feared the most throughout these elections the possibility of a second-round face-off against me and our broad- based Team,โโ Amb. Boakai stated.
Boakai argued that as evident from the results of the presidential election announced by the NEC, the Liberian people, in their righteous rage, have served President Weah a clear warning that his days in the presidency are numbered.
Boakai believed that very soon, the final verdict would be delivered to make President Weah a one-term president.
According to the opposition politician, Liberia has since witnessed gross incompetence, corruption, and brazen looting of state resources, with no accountability.
Amb. Boakai believes that the alleged lack of leadership and retrogression has been the order of the day.
โI, therefore, want to take this time to express my profound thanks and appreciation to the Parties of the UP Alliance and all our partisans and sympathizers, dispersed throughout the length and breadth of this country, who exercised their franchise by casting their votes for the Rescue Ticket,โ said Amb. Boakai.
โWith your votes and support, we have made, and will continue to make history,โโ he pointed out.
He stated that they have proven, in a resounding tone that a people determined to achieve a noble goal can prevail.
He said despite using millions upon millions of dollars obtained from questionable sources and intimidating opposition supporters, President Weah and his CDC were unable to break the ironclad resolve of the people.
Amb. Boakai also pointed out that despite the massive irregularities, they fought a good fight and defeated the ruling CDC.
โOn the journey to October 10, 2023, you, our people, defied rain and thunder; you defied the scorching sun and the suffocating heat,โ said Boakai.
He said his supporters defied sleep and fatigue, walked long distances, and crossed many rivers and creeks just to share the good news of the Rescue Mission.
โYou did so not so much because you love Joseph Nyumah Boakai or Jeremiah Kpan Koung. You did so because you love and deeply care for Liberia,โโ he concluded.
Why was this former Vice not abled to achieve the plan he has now for Liberia when he served under the female President for 12 years? Why should the incumbent discontinue in the present path to accommodate the same questions raised about the Liberian billions not yet settled and inter wangle between his 12, the incumbent’s last 6 years and up to present unsatisfactory issues that point to necessary accountability through votes to win past and straight present? The majority has its reason for calling these two to answer. Only one will win. Thus the CPP and independent candidates who canvass should use these questions not just to select on the basis of like or dislike, or one time removal or opposition; but to make the appropriate choice and look at the nation’s future success as every Liberian concern and responsibility to put structures along side institutions and resources back in place as we sifter out the governance through the ballot box to sifter out incompetence. We should accept the actuality of the result. Keep the peace and love your nation and it’s people without under grading the personality of our nationality.
Remember the majority is not English literate. It’s the 50 percent plus that gives the vote.
The rest of the political parties and independents that canvas do have the option of choice in the case of a run-off between CDC Vs UP. But at this point, the question is wish of 2 remains would be able to convince the ordinary that he has had enough time and/or opportunity to meet their putter platforms. If the aim of the formal Vice president is to rescue the Liberian people from the incumbent’s sufferings he handed over now a lame duck opponent, than why did he not help do this when he served during corrupt times when he was Vice president? On the other hand, why does the running again President need another term to explain where are billions under his supervision inserted as inert as per last female President? The formal Vice cannot be exclude under this infusion. CPP should not use the removal concept one candidate to put the nation back into acquisition just for few who greed for power on all sides as was a cause for the conflict. Rather permit to select a leader base on the fact that the situation in Liberia needs a remedy. The election process has given one option to vote or not vote for only one President. The empirical format if suggest these two as not yet their personified compatible candidates, the will of the Liberia is expressed in the one who wins the presidential seat. We must avoid the complexity of professional irrationality and cling to the fact that Liberia’s future is successful if we move forward to improve the conditions of this land on the west coast of Africa. We should accept NEC result especially when this time all nations connect to this process are in observance. Bye for now.