The Supreme Court has nullified the ruling of the National Elections Commission (NEC) and its Board of Commissioners in the election case involving the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr. Bhofal Chambers, and the candidate of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP), Anthony Williams, in Pleebo Sokoken District, Maryland County, ordering the commission to conduct a free and fair re-run at two polling precincts in the district, where Dr. Chambers alleged was electoral violence during the October polls.
The ruling comes in the wake of appeal filed by lawyers representing the appellant, Speaker Chambers, in persons of Cllr. Albert Sims, Augustine Tebleh and Sayma Syrenus Cephas calling on the court to overturn it on ground that the judgement was unfair.
It can be recalled that the National Election Commission (NEC) recently affirmed the ruling of its Hearing Officers dismissing Candidate Bhofal Chambers’ complaint alleging malpractices in the electoral process in district #2, Maryland County.
After careful examination of court records and listening to argument on both sides, the Court adjudged that the appellant proved in its argument that polling at two stations in old Sodoken Town, precinct 27020, were marred by violence.
The Supreme Court’s ruling indicated that, based on the evidence establishing the occurrence of the act, the Court is left with no alternative but to order the National Election Commission (NEC) to conduct a re-run.
The ruling, which was given under the hands and seal of the Court on January 12, 2024, was signed by four out of five Justices of the Supreme Court of Liberia: Chief Justice, Sie-A-Nyene G Yuoh, Associate Justice James Etta Howard Wollokollie, Associate Justice Yussif D Kabba, and Associate Yarmie Quiqui Gbeissay.
Justice Joseph Nangbe, being out of the bailiwick of the Republic, did not participate in the hearing and determination of this case and did not sign the judgment.
The judgement of the Court attracted a large crowd of jubilant Marylanders to the Temple of Justice, where the hearing was held, to celebrate the outcome of the appeal.
Meanwhile, responding to the ruling in a brief interview with legislative press, Dr. Chambers lauded the Supreme Court for rendering what he called a fair judgment in a case, which is claiming attention in many quarters.
The Maryland County politician said the ruling has placed him and his supporters in the best position to reclaim the seat he alleged was stolen by the opposition.
Dr. Bhofal had boasted of winning with a high margin if a re-run is conducted at the two polling stations mentioned in his appeal to the Supreme Court.
One of the appellee and candidate of the contested district, Anthony Williams, has so far made no response to the ruling.