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Before the National Elections Commission (NEC) officially declared the winner of the Liberia polls, President George Weah has congratulated the Unity Party leader, Amb. Joseph Boakai as the country’s next president. Mr Weah congratulated his rival and published the same on the Executive Mansion Facebook page.
“The results announced tonight, though not final, indicate that Ambassador Joseph N. Boakai is in a lead that is insurmountable. A few moments ago, I spoke with President-elect Joseph N. Boakai to congratulate him on his victory and to offer my sincere commitment to working with him for the betterment of our beloved Liberia. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to President-elect Boakai, his supporters, and his campaign team. May his presidency be marked by success for all Liberians, and may our nation prosper under his leadership,” Weah said.
The President, in his speech, admonished supporters and partisans of the Coalition for Democratic Change to accept the results and navigate plans for the return of the party in 2029.
“I urge you to follow my example and accept the results of the elections. Go home tonight knowing that our ideals and vision for Liberia remain strong. We are a young movement, and our time will come again. Tomorrow, resume your daily activities in a normal way and come and join me at our party headquarters to reflect on our journey and plan for our return to political leadership in 2029.
Tonight, the CDC has lost the election, but Liberia has won. This is a time for graciousness in defeat, a time to place our country above party and patriotism above personal interest. I remain your President until the handover of power, and I will continue to work for the good of Liberia. Let us heal the divisions caused by the campaign and come together as One Nation and One United People”
The message comes hours after the Chairperson of the NEC announced the results of some polling stations in Tuesday’s closely fought election run-off.
The former Vice President and leader of the Unity Party, Joseph Boakai, has taken a lead in Liberia’s close election run-off.
Mr Boakai has so far polled 814,428 of the votes, representing 50.64% of the total votes cast, with one polling centre left to be declared.
The incumbent president, George Weah, also polled 793,910, representing 49.36% of the votes after almost 99.98% of the votes had been counted.
With the official declaration yet to be announced by the NEC, DUBAWA takes a sneak peek into Liberia’s political future with the results of the election run-off clearly on the radar.
Liberians went to the polls for the second time on Nov. 14, 2023, to elect a new President to lead the country for the next six years. The decision was based on the inability of the 20 Presidential Candidates in the Oct. 10 general elections to meet the constitutional requirement of 50 plus one per cent of the total votes as mandated by the 1986 Constitution of Liberia.
What does the constitution say?
Article 83 of the Liberian Constitution states,
“(a) Voting for the President, Vice President, members of the Senate and members of the House of Representatives shall be conducted throughout the 53 Republic on the second Tuesday in October of each election year”
(b) Except for President and Vice President, all elections of public officers shall be determined by a simple majority of the valid votes cast in any election.
The election of the President and Vice President shall be by an absolute majority of the valid votes cast. Suppose no Presidential ticket obtains an absolute majority on the first ballot. In that case, a second ballot shall be conducted on the second Tuesday following the expiry of the time provided in Article 83(c). The two presidential tickets that received the greatest number of valid votes on the first ballot shall be designated to participate in the run-off election. The ticket with most of the valid votes cast shall be the declared winner.”
About the Oct. 10 elections:
As announced by the National Elections Commission (NEC) on Oct. 24, 2023, Amb. Boakai and incumbent George Weah emerged with the highest percentage in the first round of elections held on Oct. 10. In the first round of elections, President George Weah accumulated eight hundred and four thousand eighty-seven (804,087) votes to constitute 43.83% while former Vice President Joseph Boakai of opposition Unity Party accumulated seven hundred and ninety-six thousand, nine hundred sixty-one votes (796,961) constituting 43.44% per cent.
Shortly after the date for the run-off was announced, the two parties prepared for what would be a cliffhanger of an election run-off. Both parties quickly went into official and unofficial alliances with the minority parties and independent candidates with the hope of attracting votes. It looks like the opposition UP party attracted more. Two days after the election run-off, which was keenly contested, Ms Davidetta Lansanah-Browne announced a new president-elect.
Results from the run-off elections
With 99.98% of the results declared so far, former Vice President Joseph Boakai will likely become Liberia’s next president. The results by NEC reveal Amb. Boakai has obtained eight hundred and fourteen thousand, four hundred and twenty-eight votes (814,428), constituting 50.64%, with incumbent George Mannah Weah obtaining seven hundred and ninety-five thousand, nine hundred and ten votes (793,910), constituting 49.36%.
These results were derived from five thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine (5,889) polling places out of five thousand eight hundred and ninety (5,890) polling places in total. The NEC also stated in Saturday’s announcement that one polling unit is remaining in Nimba County District#9.
Also, of the two million four hundred and seventy-one thousand, six hundred and seventeen (2,471,617) registered voters, only one million six hundred and thirty-four thousand, one hundred and twenty-six (1,634,126) voters constituting 66.12% has so far been reported as participating in the elections.
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With Weah’s concession, it is clear that the leader of the Unity Party, Joseph Boakai, is most likely going to form a new government for the next six years.
