The Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC) has condemned pre-campaigning activities by political parties and aspirants ahead of the National Elections Commission’s campaign period outlined in its revised electoral timeline. The ECC said it observes the silence of the NEC on these violations, and has called on the NEC to enforce the rules and regulations related to pre-campaigning activities.
According to the NEC revised 2023 electoral calendar, the period stipulated for the presidential and legislative campaign is August 5 to October 8, 2023, but ECC Long Term Observers (LTOs) across the country have reported pre-campaigning activities prior to the campaign period, including the posting of materials designed and/or likely to influence voters.
“Pre-elections campaign is an offense against the election timeline,” ECC said in a press release, “it disrupts the level-playing field for other candidates and also brings about provocation because others who observe the rules of elections are not given the opportunity to reach out to their people like the violators.
“The ECC notes that in 2017 the [NEC] gave politicians and political parties one-week ultimatum to remove their banners, bill boards and stickers or face the punishment of being disqualified by the commission from contesting the elections in October 2017.”
According to the election body, “The ECC further states that political rallies are allowed under the laws but doesn’t require the wearing of political parties’ T-shirts, emblems, erection of billboards and distribution of stickers with photos.”
The ECC further called on the NEC to publish the regulation with respect to pre-campaigning that will outline specific sanction and penalty for political parties and aspirants who are involved with pre-campaigning activities. The election stakeholder also called on all political parties, their leaders, aspirants, and supporters to respect the rule of law and desist from engaging in pre-campaigning activities.
“At the same time, the ECC calls on the government to give priority to the disbursement of needed financial resources to the NEC for the timely implementation of electoral activities,” the ECC press release stated.
The Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC) is Liberia’s largest domestic election observation network with diverse competencies, experiences and expertise in democracy, election and governance, established since 2010. ECC’s members include the Center for Democratic Governance (CDG), Center for Media Studies and Peace Building (CEMESP), Center for Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding (CECPAP), Institute for Research and Democratic Development (IREDD), Naymote Partners for Democratic Development (NAYMOTE-PADD), West Africa Network for Peace Building (WANEP), and the Women NGO Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL). The ECC works in partnership with Democracy International with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).