Lower House endorses Nyumalin

The House of Representatives has endorsed newly Francis SakilaNyumalin asRepresentative of Lofa County electoral district#1 following his certification by the National Elections Commission or NEC.

On December 7, 2016, the NEC received a communication from the Chief Clerk of the Lower House, informing the commission of the death of Rep. EugeneFallahKparkar after a brief ailment.

In keeping with the Article 37 of the Constitution of Liberia and Section 2.9(g) of the new Electoral Law of Liberia, the NEC on February 28,2017, conducted by-election in district#1, LofaCounty to refill the vacancy.

According to the Commission, based on votes obtained by each of the nine (9) candidates, who vied for the seat, Mr. Francis S. Nyumalin of the Union of LiberianDemocrats (ULD) obtained a total of 3,149 votes, which represents 32 percent of the total valid votes from the poll.

Speaking in plenary on Thursday, 23 March Rep. Nyumalin told his colleagues that he has come to jointhe Legislature, knowing that they have a dedicated responsibility asa matter of priority to reconcile and reunite the people of Foya district to pave the way to peace, unity and development.

He said while it is undisputable that the ruling Unity Party lost theby-election in Lower Lofa County, which is the birth place ofits standard bearer, Vice President Joseph N. Boakai, the facts remains that the victory obtained by the people of Foya declared that they wholeheartedly andoverwhelmingly support the presidential bid of the Vice President.

He also noted that the issue of him returning to the Unity Party may be amatter of importance, adding that “Our immediate concern is to remainconstructively engaged with the process of effectuating a genuine collaboration between the ULD and the UP to ensure thatthat Amb. Boakai is as well the presidential candidateof the ULD in the impending elections.

By Bridgett Milton-Editing by Jonathan Browne