As the 2020 mid-term senatorial elections is in sight, the plenary of the Liberian Senate has summoned the Board of Commissioners of the National Elections Commission (NEC).
The plenary which is the highest decision making body of the Liberians Senate, reached the decision Thursday, February 6, 2020 during its regular session on Capitol Hill.
The Senate decision to take such action was triggered by a communication filed by Grand Bassa County Senator and political leader of the Liberty Party (UP) Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence.
According to Senator Lawrence, her action to write plenary asking to invite the National Eelecrion Commission (NEC) is based on the ruling of the Supreme Court during the 2017 general and presidential elections instructing the NCE to clean the Voters Registration Roll (VRR).
“As part of the Court’s ruling in the case involving the former ruling Unity Party and Liberty Party against the NEC, the NEC was charged with specific instructions to ensure that the Presidential Run-Off Election of 2017 and future elections we conducted by highest possible standard to be deem free, fair and transparent,” Senator Lawrence’s communication noted.
The Grand Bassa County Senator further stated in her communicated that the conduct of recent By-election in the country impose on them, members of the legislature a duty to inquiry the NEC’s adherence to the instructions of the Supreme Court in 2017.
“Our reluctance or refusal to ensure and ehance the preparedness of the NEC to to conduct such a major constitutional responsibility would render us accomplices to whatever adverse consequences that would arise therefrom,” she stressed.
It can be recalled that in 2017, following the end of the first round of the general and presidential elections in the country, former ruling Unity Party and Liberty Party took the NEC to court over allegations of fraud and other irregularities.
Following the heariof the case, the NEC instructed the NEC to among other things the full clean-up of the FRR to ensure multiple names are removed and the timely and effective publication of Final Registration Roll.
It is not clear whether of not the NEC has adhere to to said instructions from the Supreme Court, something which has prompted the call by the Grand Bassa County Senator and political leader of the Liberty Party.
Meanwhile, the Board of Commissioners of the NEC is expected to appear on Thursday of next week to provide such clarity.
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