-As NEC confirms Batekwa as winner
Lawyers representing the Liberia National Union, LINU, by and through Nathaniel Blama, Chairman and Candidate Nathaniel Barway, in the Grand Kru December 8, 2020 senatorial dispute has vowed to take an appeal at the Supreme Court.
The move follows the ruling of the Board of Commissioners (BOC) of the National Elections Commission (NEC), on Saturday, which affirmed and confirmed its earlier declaration ruling declaring Numene T. H. Bartekwa as winner of the 8 December 2020 Special Senatorial Elections in Grand Kru County.
The unanimous administrative ruling of the BOC of NEC Saturday, 6 February 2021 was read by Commissioner Barsee Leo Kpangkai.
However, lawyers representing LINU, led by Cllr. J. LeveliSupuwood has accepted the BOC’s ruling and announced an appeal to the honorable Supreme Court of Liberia.
The action grew out of hearing on an Appeal case filed by the registered political party, LINU, by and through candidate Nathaniel Barway, versus NEC, as first respondent, and Hon. Numene T. H. Bartekwa as Second respondent in the 8 December 2020 Special Senatorial Election in Grand Kru county.
Commissioner Leo Kpangkai reading the ruling said the complainant suffers wavers and lashes when it fails to properly take advantage of the law.
The NEC Commissioner said the complainant refused to ask for rerun in the 110 polling places before but agreed to the Board’s ruling when it granted the complainant’s pray to conduct a re-run in three polling places.
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The BOC notes that after the conduct of the rerun in the three polling places and the matter was reserved, the complainant again filed to the Board a consolidated appeal for a pray to grant to conduct rerun in the remaining 110 polling places.
The ruling also follows that of an earlier ruling on Friday February 5, where NEC reaffirmed and confirmed the candidate of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP)J. Brownie Samukai as winner of the 8 December 2020 Special Senatorial Elections in Lofa County.
The seven-person Board of Commissioners unanimous decision was read Friday 5 February 2021 by Commissioner Josephine Kou Gaye.
However, lawyers representing the complainants, led by Cllr. Samuel Kortimai accepted to the ruling and announced an appeal to the Honorable Supreme Court of Liberia.
The two appeals were granted by the Head of the Administrative Hearing, Davidetta Browne Lansanah in keeping with law and subsequently dismissed the matters.
Still at the NEC, Board of Commissioners has reserved ruling in thehearing on an Appeal, CDC, by and through Alfred KaiwonGbarpolu County and BotoeKanneh, Candidate Gbarpolu County Special Senatorial Elections.
All seven members of the BOC, including Chairperson Davidetta Browne Lansanah, Co-chairperson Cllr. P. Teplah Reeves, Commissioners Boakai A. Dukuly, Barsee Leo Kpangbai, Cllr. Ernestine Morgan Awar, Floyd Oxley Sayor and Josephine Kou Gaye heard and signed the three elections cases.
