The National Elections Commission (NEC) on May 30, 2023 issued the Writs of Elections to the nineteen (19) magistrates of election at its headquarters, 9th Street, Sinkor.
According to the NEC, the issuance of the Writs of Election is a cardinal activity in the electoral process, backed by Section 4.3 (2) of the New Elections Law of 1986, which states, “The writs shall direct the magistrate of elections of each county/district in accordance with the provisions of this title and regulations and instructions of the commission. Section 4.4 says, “Upon receipt of the writs, the magistrates shall endorse thereon the date of its receipt, and shall make all necessary arrangements for holding of the election.”
Accordingly, the Chairperson of the NEC, Cllr. Davidetta Browne Lansanah, has directed the Clerk of Writs to issue the writs, in order for the election magistrates to begin the actual conduct of the 2023 legislative and presidential elections, scheduled for October 10, 2023.
In a related development, the National Election Commission (NEC) on Tuesday, May 30, 2023 officially accredited and certificated additional ten political parties, with just four months ahead of the October 10, 2023 presidential and legislatives elections.
Political parties accredited by the National Election Commission were United Independent Democrat (UID), National Development Party (NDP), All Liberians Solidarity Party (ALSOP), Reformers National Congress (RNC), Greater Action Party of Liberia (GAPL), African Liberation League (ALL), Grassroots Development Movement (GDM), Liberia First Movement (LFM), African Democratic Movement of Liberia (ADML) and the Liberia Rebuilding Party (Rebuilding).
Officially presenting the certification to the newly accredited parties, NEC Chairperson, Davidetta Brown-Lansanah, said that the accreditation and certification of the new political parties is in keeping with Article 79 of Constitution of Liberia.
According to her, “Pleased to inform you that the above stated political parties have met all the legal requirements to be satisfied as a full-fledged registered political parties within the Republic of Liberia. Having said that, I would like to call all the chairmen of the above parties to come out to officially receive their certificate.”
Reading the wordings on the certificate, Davidetta Brown-Lansanah noted, “This is to satisfy that the above party has fulfilled all the requirements for registration as a political party as provided for in Article 79 of the Constitution of Liberia and the NEC guidelines and regulations relating to the formation and establishment of a political party to operate in Liberia.”
She continued, “The NEC hereby declares and accredit all of these parties here present as duly registered political parties, with all of the rights and privileges as pertaining thereto.”
The various parties were represented by their chairpersons, who received the certificate and made brief remarks on behalf of their institutions.
However, speaking on behalf of the various accredited and certificated political parties, the Standard Bearer of Liberia First Movement (LFM), Sheikh Mustapha Kuyateh, extolled the National Election Commission for certificating them as full-fledged political parties in the country. According to him, they as political parties see this as an opportunity to serve their country through a democratic process and not by violent means.
“We thank you for certificating us today as full-fledged political parties. We have come today committing ourselves to a non-violence and peaceful elections. We will ensure that this government is replaced with a much better system through a democratic means.
“Our certification today is not to fight this government through violence but with ideas and suggestions,” Standard Bearer Kuyateh stated.