The plenary of the Liberian Senate has mandated its Joint Committee on Autonomous Commissions and Agencies and Judiciary to scrutinize a proposal from President George M. Weah seeking a Joint Resolution from the Senate for the conduct of by-elections in four political districts in the country.
The committee is mandated to report its findings to plenary on Thursday, August 26, 2021.
The action by the Senate’s plenary was triggered by a communication forwarded Tuesday, August 17, 2021 to the august body by the President George M. Weah on behalf of the National Elections Commission (NEC).
President Weah, in the communication, said, “I am pleased to forward self-explanatory communications from the National Elections Commission (NEC), informing me about the non-feasibility to conduct the by-elections in Bomi, Bong, Grand Gedeh and Nimba Counties as required by law.”
The President, in the communication to the Senate, further added that the NEC has proposed collapsing the by-elections and holding them on the same date.
The Commission, according to the Chief Executive, is looking forward to conducting these by-elections no later than November 16, 2021, and also request a joint resolution from the Legislature.
“Honorable President Pro-Tempore, in consideration of the aforementioned, I kindly request a joint resolution of the Legislature, mandating the National Elections Commission to conduct the four by-elections no later than November 16, 2021,” The President mandated.
NEC Chairperson, Davidetta Browne Lansanah, in a communication, dated August 5, 2021, informed the President that the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) has provided 99.9 percent of funding for the by-elections.
Therefore, the Commission is looking toward conducting these by-elections no later than November 16, 2021.
The Commission, in its communication, further informed the President that, considering the 90-day mandate of Article 37 of the 1986 Constitution within which election for vacant seat should be held, the NEC expects to receive the joint resolution of both Houses by 18th August 2021.
The NEC, at the same time, told the President through the communication that the by-elections may be pushed to 2022 should the joint resolution be delayed beyond August 2021.
The four by-elections were created based on the elections of four sitting legislators of the House of Representatives during the December 8, 2020 special senatorial election.
The elected senators at the time included Edwin Melvin Snowe (district #1, Bomi), Zoe Emmanuel Pennue (district #1, Grand Gedeh), Prince K. Moye (district #2, Bong) and Jeremiah Kpan Koung (district #1, Nimba) respectively.
In consonance with Article 37 of the 1986 Constitution, these vacancies were to be filled within 90 days following the declaration of a vacancy by the House of Representatives.