MONROVIA – The Economic Freedom Fighters of Liberia (EFFL) party has predicted what it calls a major crisis in Liberia, if the chairperson of the country’s electoral body, Madam Davietta Browne-Lansanah fails to speedily release the Final Registration Roll (FRR) for next month’s elections.
Economic Freedom Fighters of Liberia Commander-In-Chief, Emmanuel D, Gonquoi, at a press conference today, stated that he foresees a major crisis befalling the country, should Browne-Lansanah and the national Elections commission (NEC) continue to be intransigent in publishing and releasing the FRR and ensuring free, fair, transparent and credible elections takes place in Liberia on 10 October.
Gonquoi termed NEC’s delay in publishing and releasing the FRR to candidates in the October 10 elections and other stakeholders, as a grave national electoral crisis.
In recent times, calls from several quarters within the Liberian society have heightened for the release of the FRR by the National Elections Commission (NEC), which Browne-Lansanah heads, as its chairperson.
Montserrado Senator Abe Darius Dillon is among individuals calling for the release of the FRR, which he according to him, in line with the laws of Liberia, should have been released 30 days prior to the conduct of the 10 October presidential and legislative elections.
At a press briefing late last week, NEC boss Browne-Lansanah disclosed that regarding the release of the FFR, her Commission has been plagued with numerous challenges, which are now being solved, promising that the electoral body would shortly release the FRR to political parties, independent candidates and other stakeholders, as well as pasting same at voting precincts across the country.
But EFFL is of the belief that when what it calls continuing delay and intransigence on the part of NEC persist, this has the propensity to intensify and plunge the country into a deeper and widespread national crisis.
The party inferred that the delay on the part of the NEC to make public the FRR, is an indication the Commission is impartial, warning that the electoral body remains an impartial referee and obeys all rules, laws, and regulations at all times.
He informed authorities at NEC that the Commission, in the past two years, having received over US$50 million, is under a legal obligation to carry out its administrative functions impartially, lamenting that should the electoral body fail to follow the election laws, it unfairly transfers tremendous and unnecessary burdens on all of those he called election stakeholders, as well as eligible voters and all Liberians.
“Liberia’s hard-won peace must be protected. We cannot allow Liberia to slide into unrest or war,” Gonquoi stressed, pointing out that the NEC, which he said was established to independently and impartially administer the country’s election laws, bears the greatest responsibility aimed at ensuring that there is the conduct of free, fair, transparent and credible presidential and legislative elections in the country on 10 October.
He pointed out that the will of the people should be protected and respected during elections as manifested by their votes, calling on those he referred to as revolutionaries, national and community leaders, and all well-meaning Liberians, to volunteer as poll watchers in the community and polling places they vote next month.
“Organize watch nights on October 10, 2023, and be vigilant as we strive to protect the votes of every Liberian,” EFFL Commander-In-Chief Gonquoi rallied Liberians.
