NEC to conduct by election in 90 days

The National Elections Commission or NEC is expected to conduct a by election within the next 90 days to fill a vacancy in the House of Representatives.

The move follows a notification sent to that body from the Speaker of the House of Representatives notifying NEC.

The Notification was contained in a letter written through the directive of the Speaker by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives, Mildred N. Sayon.

In the letter addressed to the Chairman of the NEC, Cllr. Jerome G. Korkoya, Speaker Alex Tyler said the vacancy is a result of the election of Rivercess County Electoral District Number 2 Representative Francis Paye as Senator during the December 20, 2014 Special Senatorial Election.

The Letter constitutes the legal authority of the National Elections Commission to conduct a Representative By-Election in Electoral District Number 2, Rivercess County.

The Letter of Notification is a requirement of Article 37 of the Liberian constitution which 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…..”

Meanwhile, the National Elections Commission says it has with immediate effect begun preparatory activities that would lead to the conduct of the Representative By-Election in Electoral District Number 2Rivercess County within 90 days.