ECOWAS urges NEC to release results timely, transparently 

By Lincoln G. Peters  

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has told Liberia’s National Elections Commission (NEC) that a timely and transparent release of the elections results will defuse any latent tension that may arise out of long waits for result.

“The ECOWAS Election Observation Mission urges the National Elections Commission to diligently, but urgently, work to ensure the timely and transparent release of the results to defuse any latent tension that may arise out of long waits for results,’’ said Prof. Attahirus Jega, head of the Mission in Liberia.

On Thursday, 12 October 2023, the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission urged the NEC to diligently but urgently, work to ensure the timely and transparent release of the election results.

The ECOWAS Observation Mission on Thursday made a preliminary declaration on Liberia’s presidential and legislative elections conducted on 10 October 2023.

The ECOWAS Election Observation Mission’s press conference was graced by the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Liberia, African Elders Forum, African Union, members of the diplomatic corps and dozens of international observers.

The ECOWAS Election Observation Mission deployed 120 observes, grouped into 54 teams across the country. 

The observers visited a total of 576 polling stations spread across both urban (52% and rural (48%) in 13 out of the 15 counties here.

In the ECOWAS EOM preliminary declaration, it noted infrastructure challenge to the conduct of the polls, particularly transportation of elections materials by the NEC.

It also cited the opening of about 60 polling stations within 30 minutes of the official opening, peaceful and securitized atmosphere of the polling places and the voting process and late closure of polls.

Professor Jega noted the challenges associated with infrastructure and their impact on the smooth conduct of the election.

But he also urged the government to put measures in place to ameliorate the infrastructural conditions of the country.

He also recommended that the Legislature and other critical stakeholders consider the review of the relevant portion of the Constitution and the electoral law to allow for national elections to be held on dates during the dry season.

“The Mission notes that the polling process generally proceeded smoothly and in a largely peaceful atmosphere, and eligible voters were able to freely participate in the process,” he said.

Meanwhile, Professor Jega spoke of the long queues, congestions at voting precincts and slow pace of the process that he said led to some grumbling and agitations by voters. 

“To address congestion and long queues at polling precincts, reforms may be introduced in the electoral laws to reduce the number of votes per polling unit, taking into cognizance the resource need for such reform,’’ said Prof. Jega.

However, the Mission through its head commended the sense of patriotism exhibited by polling staff, security forces and the general populace who collectively played their parts in ensuring a peaceful conduct of the 2023 elections.

‘’ The ECOWAS Elections Observation Mission wishes to appeal to all stakeholders, particularly the political parties, candidates and their supporters as well as the security force and the general citizenry to remain calm and patiently wait for the official declaration of the results by the NEC, the sole organ mandated to do so under the law,’’ he urged.

Mr. Jega further reminded candidates and political parties on the commitment made within the framework of the Revised Farmington River Declaration to use legal channels and lawful means in addressing any disputes that may emerge from the conduct of the 2023 elections.

He urged political parties and stakeholders to refrain from making any statements that may lead to a breach of the peace, saying that they will continue to closely monitor the concluding phases of the electoral process.

He spoke particularly of the aggregation, collection and release of the results from the counties and the declaration of preliminary results nationally and will make further pronouncements should the need arise.

“Finally, the ECOWAS Elections Observation Mission highly commends the vast majority of the electorate for the patience and sense of patriotism exhibited by them,” said Prof. Jega.

He urged for a display of a high sense of maturity while awaiting the official announcement of the results by the NEC.