Conduct A Violent Free Election, WAEF Advises Liberia

 

As Liberia goes to the Polls on the 10nth of this month,  the West African Elders Forum (WAEF) Election Mission to Liberia has urged politicians and other stakeholders in the country to eschew violence and commit to peaceful election ahead of the country’s general  election on Tuesday, October 10, 2023. 

In a statement on Sunday signed  by former President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan head of the mission and Mr. Kadrie Desire Ouedrago, former Prime Minister of Burkinabo Faso and deputy head of the mission at the close of campaign on Sunday in Monrovia, the mission urged all candidates to abide by the peace accord.

 The Forum  also urged the National Electoral Commission (NEC) and the security agencies  to exercise their mandate  in accordance with the nation’s laws to  build trust and guarantee the integrity of the elections. 

In a statement on Sunday Signed by 

Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Chairman, Goolduck Jonathan Foundation (GJF),  Head of WAEF Election Mission to Liberia and  Mr. Kadrie Desire Ouedrago Prime Minister of Burkinabo Faso  former President of the ECOWAS Commission  and  Deputy Head of WAEF Election Mission to Liberia the statement read in part "The West African Elders Forum (WAEF) commends Liberians for their abiding faith in the nation’s democracy, as exemplified in the mass participation in the 2023 electioneering activities, which culminated in the spirited closing campaigns of various parties which ended today, Sunday, October 8th 2023.

"We note that Liberia has, in the last two decades, established a striking culture of peaceful elections and seamless transitions, for which we urge all stakeholders to strive to maintain this tradition by working to make the 2023 elections transparent, free and fair.

"We urge the candidates and voters to be law-abiding and avoid actions that could have a negative impact on the elections and threaten the peace and stability the country has witnessed since the end of the civil war.

"We note the commitment to a non-violent, free, fair and transparent electoral process, as demonstrated by the signing of the Farmington River Declaration, and urge all candidates to abide by the dictates of the peace accord.

"However, we are deeply concerned by the recent reports of violent clashes in some parts of the country that led to the alleged death of two-party supporters in Lofa County. 

"WAEF condemns the unfortunate incident and urges the concerned authorities to conduct diligent investigations with a view to preventing such acts of violence from happening during and after the elections.

"In this regard, we encourage them, as they close their campaigns, to appeal to their supporters to conduct themselves peacefully and maintain law and order during and after the elections to promote progressive politics devoid of hate speech, personal attacks, incendiary rhetoric and violence.

"It is imperative that the candidates and their supporters commit to repeating the exemplary milestone achieved in 2017 when similar peace pledges were made and strictly adhered to in the interest of peace, progress and sustainable democracy. 

"The Forum also urges the National Electoral Commission (NEC) and the security agencies that manage the elections to exercise their mandate and independence in accordance with the nation’s laws to further build trust and guarantee the integrity of the elections. 

"The Forum, in line with its mandate of accompanying West African countries in their various efforts at consolidating their democracies, has engaged with Liberian stakeholders since July, when it first deployed a pre-election mission to Monrovia. 

"On election day, members of the WAEF Mission who arrived in the country on Saturday, October 7, 2023, will visit polling stations in Monrovia to observe voting procedures and results collation process and will remain engaged until the results are declared, and the electoral processes successfully concluded. The statement concluded.