Ghost lawmaker at Capitol

The Chief Clerk at the House of Representatives Mildred Siryon says she has no record of a man allegedly posing himself as lawmaker and occupying a contested office at the 54th Legislature with a name “Gurpue L. Kargon.”

The office in question is being reserved for a disputed representative seat from Nimba County that is being claimed by former Rep. Garrison Yealue and a rival candidate Gurpue L. Kargon.

The Supreme Court of Liberia ordered a recount of votes in the disputed district on 9 February following a complaint filed by Mr. Garrison Yealue, but it is not clear how his rival appeared at the disputed office coded #139 and naming it “Gurpue L. Kargon, Nimba County Electoral District Number-4.”

The House’s Chief Clerk Mildred Siryon says she has no record of Mr. Kargon to be a member of that august body.

According to her, Mr. Kargon has no record to be a member of the 54th Legislature, noting that having office without the knowledge of the plenary session of the House of Representatives is unlawful and will be probed.

The Chief Clerk’s assertions were in response to investigation conducted by this paper following discovery of the unknown lawmaker occupying office space at the basement of the Lower House without any traceable record.

“I don’t know that person (lawmaker), I have not seen him around the compound of the Legislature,” Madam Siryon told NewDawn. The Chief Clerk further clarifies that before a lawmaker facing legal challenge can be issued office, the National Elections Commission will have to write the 54th Legislature as per law, informing it that the person challenged has been declared winner and certificated.

In the Supreme Court’s ruling, the National Elections Commission (NEC) was mandated to ensure that all parties be present for the recount. But it is reported that Mr. Yealue allegedly failed to turn out after two citations to him.
On Monday 20 February, NEC is said to have issued what appeared to be the final citations to all parties, scheduling recount for 3 March.

As per the Supreme Court’s ruling, the recount will be taken at one polling pace as craved forby Mr. Yealue. The incumbent lawmaker filed in a complaint for recount of Kpaglay Polling Precinct #33105, in Beo-Borgplay District in which he claimed there were foul play.

By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor–Edited by Winston W. Parley