MONROVIA – Final results from Liberia just-concluded presidential and legislative elections would be released early next week, according to National Elections Commission (NEC) chairperson, Davidetta Browne-Lansanah.
Browne-Lansanah, at a press confab at the weekend, disclosed that the final national results for the presidential, senatorial and representative outcomes of the 10 October 2023 elections would be announced on Tuesday, 24 October, at the Commission’s Headquarters located at Sinkor, between 9th and 10th Streets, at 4:30 pm.
She also disclosed that the re-run election earlier scheduled to have been conducted in Nimba County’s 4 electoral District, was held on 20 October 2023, with ballot-counting and tallying being completed, while collation of results were currently taking place at NEC’s Headquarters, in Monrovia.
Browne-Lansanah, while inviting members of the press, stakeholders, actors, and observers to the next Tuesday’s announcement of final elections results, noted that while the NEC has completed nearly 100’% of the 10 October elections results, and as the Commission awaits collation of results from the Nimba re-run election, there will be no announcement of election results on Sunday, 22nd and Monday, 23rd October.
Meanwhile, as per results announced so far by the NEC, incumbent President George Weah slightly leads opposition leader Joseph N. Boakai of Unity Party, in the presidential contest.
As per the NEC’s Progressive Tallied Report, Candidate Weah has accumulated 791,661 votes, accounting for 43.79%, while his rival Boakai has garnered 786, 205, amounting to 43.49%.
As of the last time the NEC released election results, 1,999 Polling Places had reported in Montserrado, with a balance of 9 Polling Places outstanding in the county.
In vote-rich Nimba, 733 out of a total of 736 Polling Places, accounting for 99.59%, have reported, with a balance of 3 Polling Places yet to report.
Of Bong County’s 555 Polling Places, 553 constituting 99.64%, have reported, with 2 Polling Places outstanding.
Bomi County has reported 99.42%, while Grand Cape Mount County has reported 90.14%, and out of a total of 163 Polling Places in Grand Gedeh, 161 representing 98.77%, have reported.
Grand Kru has reported 99.09%, while out of Maryland’s 175 Polling Places, 167 accounting for 95.43%, have reported.
From Sinoe, election results have been reported 99.34%, while out of River Gee County’s 98 Polling Places, 96 accounting for 97.96%, have reported.
Counties where election results have been reported 100% are: Lofa, with 424 Polling Places; Gbarpolu, 134 Polling Places; River Cess, 105 Polling Places; and Grand Bassa, 405 Polling Places;
Pundits are predicting a presidential runoff, arguing that with almost all of the results already announced and the race between the two main contenders so close, it’s most likely neither Weah, who currently leads with a margin of 5,456 votes, nor his closest rival Boakai, can obtain the constitutionally required absolute majority to win on first ballot.
