GANTA, NIMBA COUNTY – As voters in Nimba County prepare to cast their ballots in the crucial April 22 senatorial by election, three of Liberia’s leading election observation groups, the Election Coordinating Committee (ECC), Liberia Elections Observation Network (LEON), and the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP Liberia), have jointly deployed more than 100 observers across the county to monitor the electoral process.
The by-election, triggered by the death of Senator Prince Y. Johnson, comes at a critical time for the nation’s second most populous county, with over 300,000 registered voters expected to participate. In a joint pre-election statement released on April 21, the three organizations strongly encouraged citizens of Nimba to vote peacefully and ignore divisive rhetoric, historical grievances, and the quest for political dominance.
A total of 88 short term observers and 13 supervisors and coordinators have been stationed throughout Nimba’s nine electoral districts. These observers will monitor every stage of the election, from the setup and opening of polling places to the voting, counting, and final tallying of ballots. The deployment is part of a broader strategy coordinated from a joint election data center in Ganta, with real time updates expected to be shared via situational graphics and statements.
The observers emphasized the need for calm and respect for democratic processes, urging all candidates and their supporters to refrain from inflammatory remarks and actions that could undermine peace. They also warned against any attempts to incite violence, referencing an incident on April 4 when candidate Edith Gongloe Weh and her team were chased out of Gborplay community by supporters believed to be loyal to rival candidate Samuel Kogar.
Despite this and some instances of divisive language on local radio stations, the pre-election environment has largely remained peaceful, according to ECC, LEON, and WANEP monitors. The groups also hailed efforts by the National Elections Commission (NEC) and civil society organizations to engage communities through civic and voter education campaigns, especially in identified electoral hotspots.
The NEC received commendation for its logistical preparations, including the timely delivery of election materials and the vetting of seven certified candidates, among them one female. The Joint Security Taskforce, under the leadership of Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman, was also praised for enhancing security across the county in the lead up to the vote.
As part of its response preparedness, WANEP has activated the County Election Response Group (CERG), comprising 10 stakeholders based in Sacleapea, Sanniquellie, and Ganta. This group is tasked with receiving and escalating risk alerts from the nine districts to the WANEP National Early Warning System (NEWS), which coordinates with the Joint Security Taskforce and the NEC to resolve issues swiftly.
The election monitors called on NEC officials to ensure transparency and adherence to procedures, particularly during the ballot sorting and reconciliation stages. They further urged the Commission to communicate updates on tallying and results transmission promptly to avoid misinformation.
In concluding their statement, ECC, LEON, and WANEP encouraged political parties to dispatch their agents to monitor the process and asked security personnel to exercise professionalism and patience with voters on election day.
This collaborative monitoring initiative is backed by the European Union through WANEP’s regional office and aims to promote a credible, peaceful, and inclusive electoral process in Nimba County.
