Senators up Capitol Hill went at loggerhead during heated argument at the public hearing. The ruling Unity Party (UP) and opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) are due to meet at a presidential runoff election scheduled by the NEC for 26 December. Some Senators argued that NEC was proceeding wrongly by setting date for the runoff election, insisting that such responsibility squarely rests at the feet of the Liberian Legislature. But others argued that the Supreme Court’s ruling instructed NEC to set date for the runoff, but in conferment of the 1986 Liberian Constitution.
Following deliberations by NEC Chairman Cllr. Jerome George Korkoya in which he provided update regarding the cleaning up of the Final Registration Roll (FRR), Grand Bassa County Senator Jonathan Kaipee made a motion that the Senate’s standing committee should work alongside with NEC to ensure full implementation of the proceedings as mandated by the high court.
But Bomi County Senator Sando Johnson, with Monte Crispo (cigars) between his fingers, shouted that the runoff be postponed to a later date. Noise intensified at the hearing to the point that the presiding officer Pro Tempore Armah Jallah lost [control] of the process. It took Grand Gedeh County Senator Alphonso Gaye to make another motion that the hearing be continued for tomorrow, Thursday, 21 December.
On December 12, the Liberian Senate summoned the NEC, including its chairman Cllr. Korkoya to provide update on how it intends to fix the problems associated with the runoff election as contained in the modification of the Supreme Court’s Opinion.
Full Article: The New Dawn Liberia – Election hearing ends in deadlock.
