NEC qualifies 10 candidates for R’Cess by-election

-as campaign starts

The National Elections Commission (NEC) has qualified ten candidates to contest the April 21, 2015 Rivercess County Electoral District Number 2 Representative By-Election.

The NEC released Wednesday at a press conference held in Yarpah Town, Rivercess County in line with the Key dates for the By-election in the County.

The Acting Chairman of the NEC, Cllr. Sarah Toe, said candidates qualified to contest the election include nine political parties and one independent candidate.

She said there is only one female contesting the election.

A press release issued by the NEC Thursday said candidates qualified to contest the election include: Bartee, Sr. Charles Zarkpah, Congress for Democratic Change (CDC); Doue, G. Thomas M., Alternative National Congress (ANC); Greene, Jerry Floh, Unity Party (UP); Mento, Hilary Flomo, Independent; and Paul, Gabriel, National Patriotic Party (NPP). Others are: Reeves, Jerome armonblo, Union of Liberian Democrats (ULD); Wally, Matthew T., Liberty Party (LP); Wesseh, Lucky T.K. (Female), National Democratic Coalition (NDC); Zah, Kofi Bob, People’s Unification Party (PUP); and Zahnwes, Byron Wehgbiah, Movement for Progressive Change (MPC).

Meanwhile, the Commission has announced the start of political campaign for the Rivercess County Electoral District Number 2 By-Election.

The campaign which began in the county Wednesday, March 25, will end on April 19.

In the declaration of the start of campaign, the Commission’s Acting Chairman called on all candidates and their supporters to go about their campaign activities in a peaceful manner. 

She wants the campaign period to be used by the candidates to market their ideologies and plans for the advancement of District Number 2 in particular and Liberia in general. 

Cllr. Toe called on the candidates and their supporters to avoid rancor and bitter exchanges and show respect for one another as they go about their campaign activities.

The National Elections Commission also urged all candidates and their supporters to observe all public health regulations instituted by the Government of Liberia and health authorities to prevent the spread of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease during the course of the campaign.

On January 22 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 Number 2 Representative Francis Paye, as Senator during the December 20, 2014 Special Senatorial Election.

The Letter, which constitutes 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 Liberian constitution which, in relevant part, states that “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…..”