PAYOWI calls for calm

A group of young women known as Paramount Young Women Initiative or PAYOWI has called on young people especially girls to remain calm as the legal proceedings into the October 10 electoral disputes take its course at the National Elections Commission or NEC. The group described the current electoral process as a testimony of Democracy being at work.

“Our Country Liberia is undergoing a historic democratic transition that will mark the first time in decades for a democratically elected president to hand over power to the other. This is a milestone we can’t afford to miss. Following the October 10 polls, no candidate won the Presidential race with the 50% plus one vote, as required by our Constitution, thus mandating a runoff election to determine the winner,” a statement signed by Ms. Facia Harris, PAYOWI Executive Coordinator on Thursday November 9, said.

The group in their statement further explained the rational of the current wrangling saying:The Liberty Party finished third in the first round of voting but filed complaints to the National Elections Commission, citing incidents of elections irregularities. While Preparation to the runoff elections were underway by the NEC, the Liberty party, feeling her complaints had not been reasonably adjudicated by the NEC took an appeal to the Supreme Court to issue a writ of prohibition on the Elections, pending the adjudication of its case with the NEC. The Supreme Court granted the writ and asked the NEC to conclude its case with the Liberty party.

Paramount Young Women Initiative under its nonpartisan civic and voters education program for First Time Voters, particularly young females “Her Vote Counts” acknowledges the rule of law and the use of the courts as pillars of Liberia’s growing democracy.

The organization calls on first time voters, especially young women to closely follow the ongoing legal process for clear understanding to make their first national voting experience remarkable.

The organization calls on all Liberians to remain peaceful as we await the legal matter to be handled in the confines of the law and the onward conclusion of the presidential election.  PAYOWI however calls on the NEC to timely handle all matters and or complaints rousing before it from the October 10 elections within the legal frameworks. PAYOWI is a local civil society organization that promotes the education and empowerment of women and girls.