NIMBA COUNTY, LIBERIA – With just nine days remaining until the highly anticipated Nimba County Senatorial By-election on April 22, 2025, the National Elections Commission (NEC) of Liberia says it is fully prepared to conduct a credible poll. The Commission confirmed it has received US$2 million in funding and that ballots have already arrived in the country as of April 7.
The NEC also welcomed the early deployment of state security forces, including the Liberia National Police (LNP), to the county. This pre-emptive action began during the official campaign period, which runs from March 31 to April 19. According to the NEC, the Government of Liberia has allocated US$225,000 specifically for electoral security, a move praised by the Commission for helping to foster a peaceful electoral environment.
NEC Chairperson Davidetta Browne Lansanah made these disclosures during the second High-Level Partners’ Meeting on the by-election held in Monrovia. She updated local and international partners on the Commission’s preparation efforts, support received, and challenges ahead. Madam Lansanah noted that civic and voter education campaigns are in full swing, with messages being delivered across Nimba County in English and four major local languages—Gio, Mano, Mandingo, and Krahn. These efforts are being carried out in partnership with local community organizations to boost voter awareness and turnout.
The meeting brought together key development partners and election stakeholders, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN Women, Internews, and civil society groups such as the Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC), Liberia Elections Observation Network (LEON), Local Voices Liberia (LVL), and the Center for Media Studies and Peacebuilding (CEMESP).
Kathrine Green, Chief Technical Advisor of the UNDP Electoral Support Project, highlighted the importance of ongoing collaboration among partners to ensure a transparent and peaceful election. The initiative is being co-chaired by UN Resident Coordinator Christine Umutoni and ECOWAS Ambassador to Liberia Josephine Nkrumah, who both urged the NEC to maintain timely and consistent communication with the public to build trust in the process.
The co-chairs also called on political parties under the Inter-Party Consultative Committee (IPCC) to recommit to the Farmington Declaration, a nonviolence pact signed by political actors ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The High-Level Partners’ Meeting is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Justice, NEC, UNDP Electoral Support Project, European Union, Irish Aid, and the Government of Sweden.
