By: Naneka A. Hoffman
National Revolutionary Movement of Liberia (NAREMOL) calls on the National Elections Commission (NEC) to fine the ruling Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) for violating the electoral guidelines.
The group threatens to bring down campaign flyers & billboards of President Weah on the principal streets of Monrovia.
Speaking in a news conference on Monday, February 6, in Central Monrovia, the National Chairman of NAREMOL Siaffa Kanneh, recalled that few weeks ago, the National Elections Commission officially released guidelines and calendar of events leading to the October general and presidential elections, announcing start of official political campaign activities for August to October 2023.
Chairman Kanneh continues that the NEC also warned of consequences for violators of the electoral timetable but in defiant of these warnings, the governing Coalition for Democratic Change in total disregard of the electoral law, staged the “1 million Citizens’ Rally” on February 4th for the re-election of President Weah.
He said predicated upon this and as part of NAREMOL’s responsibilities in safeguarding the peace of Liberia thru mass civil education, the NEC should with immediate effect impose a severe fine on the CDC for engaging in pre-campaign activities.
He noted that the first pillar of democracy is adherence to the rule of law and impartial implementation of the electoral laws and guidelines by NEC to set the pace for free, fair, transparent and credible elections.
Kanneh stresses that failure by NEC to punish the ruling Coalition as a precedent to deter future would-be violators would render the Board of Commissioners at NEC useless and as partisans whose interest is to plunk the country into chaos.
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He said the grave violation of the electoral guidelines by the governing CDC in erecting campaign banners and flyers of President Weah along the streets of Monrovia and its environs should be condemned by all peace-loving and law-abiding Liberians.
He urges NEC to with immediate effect, order the CDC to bring down those campaign banners in the streets, as campaign period is still five months ahead.
Kanneh warns that if the Commission fails to act in 72 hours, NAREMOL will be left with absolutely no option but to lead citizens’ action to bring down the campaign banners, saying it would not support the Weah-government to make Liberia a lawless country. Editing by Jonathan Browne
