NEC declares R/Cess by-election winner today

A Liberian medical practitioner, Mr. Byron Zahnwea, appears to be comfortably seated to win Tuesday’s April 21, 2015 by-election in District #2, Rivercess County.

Mr. Zahnwea has reportedly obtained over 1,500 votes, amounting to 24 percent of the total votes cast, though the National Elections Commission has not announced official result of the poll. 

However, ballot papers already counted and subsequently tallied indicate from all indications, that Mr. Zahnwea has taken the lead.

According to a press release issued by the NEC in Monrovia, tallied results of the by-election from all 42 polling centers in the district were released Wednesday at the NEC local office in Cestos City, Rivercess County.

The announcement of final results and certification of the winner takes place today, Friday, April 24, 2015 in Cestos City.

On January 22nd  this year, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alex Tyler, informed the Commission  of a vacancy in the House occasioned by the election of Rivercess County Electoral District# 2 Representative, Francis Paye, as Senator during the December 20, 2014 Special Senatorial Election.

The letter, which constituted the legal authority of the National Elections Commission to conduct a Representative By-Election in Electoral District Number 2, Rivercess County is a requirement of Article 37 of the Constitution of Liberia, which in relevant part, states: “In the event of a vacancy in the Legislature created by death, resignation, expulsion or otherwise, the Presiding Officer shall within 30 days notify the Elections Commission thereof. The Elections Commission shall not later than 90 days thereafter cause a by-election to be held…..”