By Naneka A. Hoffman
The chairperson of the National Elections Commission (NEC) Daviedetta Browne Lansanah, says re-run for the Presidential, Senatorial and Representative Elections at two polling places in Precinct Beo Lontuo, Electoral District#4, Nimba County will be held today, 20 October 2023.
The precinct suffered violence during polling day on Tuesday, 10 October when group of individuals forcibly entered there and reportedly took away ballot boxes, but Police retrieved those boxes subsequently.
Progressive results announced by the National Elections Commission for the two top candidates in the race for Presidency give President George Weah 43.84% of the votes, while his main challenger, Joseph Nyumah Boakai trades with 43.34%.
Ms Lansanah says all is set for the conduct of these elections, as electoral magistrate and Police have already been deployed there, including NEC’s permanent and temporary staff.
The NEC Boss further discloses seven (7) arrests have been made so far from the disruption of counting process in the Beo Lontuo Precinct, Electoral District#4.
She explains that those arrested are George Josephus, Menwongbaye Sieden, Nelson Gomah, Gonmietay Gomie, Emmanuel Luoh, Hanson Cooper and Hakkaton Miahn.
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She says Police in Nimba have levied multiple charges against these suspects, ranging from obstruction of government’s function, criminal mischief, theft of property to tampering with public records. Others, who were involved with the violent acts on polling day are said to be on the run.
Meanwhile, Madam Browne-Lansanah says regarding payment of temporary staff, payrolls for election workers from Lower Montserrado, Maryland, River Gee, Rivercess, Lower Lofa, Upper Montserrado, Margibi, Upper Nimba, Lower Nimba and Grand Gedeh have been submitted and disbursements are being processed via mobile money transfer for temporary staff, who worked in these magisterial areas.
However, she notes that payment for temporary staff from the remaining magisterial areas will be processed as soon as the payrolls are submitted. Editing by Jonathan Browne
