The National Elections Commission (NEC) has revealed that it has received a notification from the House of Representatives of a vacancy in the 54th National Legislature.
A NEC statement quotes a communication from the House of Representatives as saying the vacancy exists following the election and succeeding certification of Representative Jeremiah Koung, electoral district #1, Nimba County, as Senator of Nimba, during the December 8, 2020 special senatorial elections.
The Nimba County notification from the House of Representatives brings to four the numbers of vacancies within the 54th National Legislature. The others are from Bong, Maryland, and Grand Gedeh counties.
The House’s communication to the NEC, dated Wednesday April 21, 2021, says the letter is in consonance with Article 37 of the Liberian Constitution to notify the Commission of the vacancy of the position of a Representative.
The notification from the House of Representatives, signed by its Chief Clerk, Mildred N. Sayon, requests the NEC to work out the necessary modalities and mechanisms for the holding of a by-election to fill the vacancy created by the election of Representative Jeremiah Koung as Senator of Nimba County.
Article 37 of the Liberian Constitution says, “In the event of a vacancy in the Legislature caused by death, resignation, expulsion or otherwise, the presiding officer shall within 30 days notify the Elections Commission thereof. The Elections Commission shall not later than 90 days thereafter cause a by-election to be held; provided that where such vacancy occurs within 90 days prior to the holding of general elections, the filling of the vacancy shall await the holding of such general elections.”