By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
Former Chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega is appointed as one of the 15 Long Time Election Observers to monitor
key stages in the electoral process leading up to Liberia’s general elections on October 10, 2023.
Jega’s appointment was by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Alieu Touray, and the deployment of the 15 observers have also been granted by the president.
The deployment is consistent with provisions of Articles 12 to 14 of the 2001 ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance as assistance to Member States holding elections.
The Long-term Observation Mission (LTOM), headed by Mr. Serigne Mamadou KA, Ag. Head of the Electoral Assistance Division comprises experts in election administration, gender and civil society, constitutional law, security, and the media.
The LTO Mission will be in the country until October 15, 2023, to observe the electoral processes and also serve as an early warning mechanism for preventive diplomacy.
TheNiche gathered that during their stay, the electoral experts will hold working sessions with various stakeholders, including the National Elections Commission (NEC), government, civil society organizations, the media, security agencies, as well as political parties and candidates, toward ensuring a smooth electoral process.
Some 2,471,617 registered voters among Liberia’s estimated population of 5.4 million, will elect a new President, thirty (30) Senators, and seventy-three (73) members of the House of Representatives.
The incumbent President George Opong Weah of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) is seeking re-election for a second term.
He will be contesting with 19 other candidates, including former Vice-President Joseph Boakai of the Unity Party and Alexander Cummings of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP).
The ECOWAS LTOs will be reinforced on 3rd October by 80 of their Short-Term colleagues, drawn from the ECOWAS Council of the Wise, ECOWAS Parliament, and Community Court of Justice, member States’ foreign ministries, electoral management bodies, and civil society organisations.
The combined observation Mission, led by Prof Jega, will be deployed across Liberia’s 15 Counties, including the national capital, Monrovia.
The Mission is expected to issue a Preliminary Declaration within 48 hours after the elections, to be followed by a detailed Final Report on its observations.