Weah, Boakai in seesaw battle
--As NEC continues release of preliminary election results
By Lincoln G. Peters
Incumbent President George Weah and his main rival former Vice President Joseph N. Boakai are said to be in a seesaw battle as the race to the Executive Mansion remains undecided.
On Sunday, October 15, Mr. Weah took a narrow lead over his opponent Mr. Boakai with just 0.26%. However, the narrative changed on Monday, October 16, when the Unity Party (UP) presidential candidate swung the narrow lead in his favor at 0.5%.
The battle has been solid from both ends, as the National Elections Commission (NEC) continues to release preliminary results. The two archrivals have been locked in a tight race for the presidential seat contested by a total of 20 candidates.
Reading the progressive tally report, NEC chairperson Davidetta Brown-Lansanah said Mr. Boakai, a former Liberian vice president, secured a total of 748,463 votes constituting 43.70% against Mr. Weah’s 747,578 votes constituting 43.65%.
The NEC reported from 56467 polling places out of a total of 5890 polling places constituting 92.82%.
She said candidate Boakai obtained 748,463 votes constituting 43.70 %, while Mr. Weah of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) obtained 747,578 votes, constituting 43.65%.
Either of the two rivals needs 50 percent plus one of the votes cast to win the presidency. In 2017, Mr. Weah and Mr. Boakai battled in a presidential run-off and the former won the polls as an opposition candidate.
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Weah, a former Liberian international soccer star overwhelmingly enjoyed the mass support of ordinary people in past elections when he was an opposition.
Young people and those who saw the educated class as the country’s problems found political comfort in backing Weah’s quest for the nation’s highest seat.
But his six years in office have painted a completely different picture of the leader they thought he was.
While he still maintains a strong support base within his Coalition for Democratic Change, it seems the grassroots-level support is now divided.
In this year’s polls, both Weah and Boakai have amassed support from the grassroots, and the incumbent did not have a smooth ride this time.
The NEC will continue to announce more preliminary results in the coming days. The outcomes will tell whether there can be a one-round victory or a run-off between the two archrivals.
