NEC CERTIFICATES CLLR. JALLAH AS LOFA NEWEST SENATOR

Jerromie S. Walters

Sinkor, Liberia::The National Elections Commission (NEC) has officially certificated Counselor Joseph Jallah, as winner of the just ended Lofa County senatorial by-Election.

Cllr. Jallah was certificated early Wednesday, July 13. 2022, at the headquarters of the national elections commission in Sinkor.

It can be recalled that on Friday July 1, 2022, the National Elections Commission (NEC) declared Independent candidate Joseph Jallah as the winner of the Lofa County senatorial by-election, after winning a total of 22,019 votes, constituting 36.6%.

Following his certification, Lofa county senator Cllr. Jallah assured his commitment in working in the interest of the people of Lofa county, by ensuring that issues effecting them are addressed.

He further emphasized the need for peace and reconciliation amongst them all, as he believes the electoral process is over and it is now time that they all work cordially to ensure the betterment of the lives of the people of Lofa.

However, Cllr. Jallah applauded the people of the county, as well as the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) for their unwavering support which yielded victory, and pledged his official membership to the Party in the coming days.

In a brief statement at the certification ceremony, the Chairperson of the National Elections Commission Madam Davidetta Brown-Lansanah congratulated the people of Lofa County for the peaceful manner in which they conducted themselves during the electoral process.

She assured the Commission’s commitment in conducting elections based on the democratic principles, free, fair and without fear or favor.

The Commission’s result showed Mr Galakpai Kortimai of the Unity Party at the second place, with a total of 21,229 constituting 35.15%.

However, critics have seen the Unity Party loss in Lofa, as a clearer picture of their weakness, and inability to singlehandedly win the 2023 general election.

Following days of the declaration of Cllr. Jallah as the winner of the election, the Unity Party frowned at the process, noting that it was marred by irregularities.

Though the UP highlighted issues of Irregularities during the election, they didn’t not provide their stand on the process or as to whether they would have gone to Court for legal redress.

As the constitution demands, Participants in electoral processes are given seven (7) days to file in an official complaint to NEC, if there is an issue of dissatisfaction regarding the process.

Judging from said backdrop, NEC Chairperson Madam Davidetta Brown-Lansanah said the Commission has not receive any communication from any of the candidates or Parties that participated in the process within the given timeframe.

The senatorial seat in Lofa county was previously won by Mr. J. Brownie Samukai who was overwhelmingly voted in 2020 on the UP/CPP ticket but denied certification due to court issues.

Mr. Samukai and two co-defendants of the Armed Forces of Liberia were convicted for theft of property, criminal conspiracy, misuse of public money, and money laundering of over US$1 million and sentenced to two years in prison, and ordered to restore the money that was entrusted into their care as a pension plan for soldiers of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL).