The National Elections Commission (NEC) has set July 2, 2019 as the date for the conduct of Montserrado County Senatorial and Representatives by – elections.
The two by – elections result from the death of Senator Geraldine Doe – Sheriff following a prolonged illness, and the death of Montserrado County District #15 Rep. Adolph Lawrence who died in a car crash on his way to Monrovia from Buchanan, Grand Bassa County.
NEC Chairperson Cllr. Jerome G. Korkoya has mandated the Commission’s Clerk of Election Writs to conduct the District #15 Representative and Senatorial By-elections in Montserrado County.
The Commission says in a release that the NEC’s mandate to the Clerk of Writs, Madam Antoinette B. Johnson was done Friday, 3 May by Cllr. Korkoya.
The press release indicates that Cllr. Korkoya in his election mandate commanded the Chief Clerk of Election Writs to further issue elections writs to the Elections Magistrates of lower and upper Montserrado County to conduct a by-election in their respective areas on the 2nd day of July 2019 from the hour of 8:00 Ante Meridian to 6:00 Post Meridian.
“You shall certify to me by endorsement upon this Mandate at the close of counting of votes as to the form and manner you executed this Mandate” and “this shall constitute your legal and sufficient authority”, Cllr. Korkoyah orders the Clerk of Writs.
The release adds that the mandates come after the Commission took administrative notice from two separate notifications from the Liberian Senate, dated 9 April 2019 and from the House of Representatives dated 29 April 2019 announcing vacancies caused by the deaths of Senator Geradince Doe – Sherif and Representative Adolph A. Lawrence in the Senate and House of Representatives, respectively.
According to the NEC, the Clerk of Election Writs Madam Antoinette B. Johnson reminded the Magistrates of lower and upper Montserrado County during issuance of the Elections Writs that the last day for nomination of aspirants by duly registered political parties, coalitions, alliances, or independent aspirants for the Senatorial and Representative by-elections shall be the 18th day of May 2019 at 5:00 o’clock Post Meridian.
The release also discloses that Madam Johnson said the issuance of the elections writs are in line with a mandate by the Board of Commissioners (BOC) of NEC, through its Chairperson to inform the magistrates that pursuant to the notification of letters received from the House of Representatives and the Liberian Senate, informing the Commission of the vacancies within the two Houses.
Accepting the elections writs, Magistrate Vopea S. Gongloe promised that they would fully execute the mandate by conducting free, fair, credible and transparent representative by-election in District #15 and Senatorial by-election in Montserrado County without fear or favor.
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Magistrate Gongloe said to ensure this, they will need all the necessary logistical, financial and moral support from the Government of Liberia, through the Board of Commissioners of the National Elections Commission of Liberia and other elections stakeholders and partners.—Press release
