Monrovia, 20 November 2017 – The National Election Commission of Liberia, NEC, on Monday denied the complaints of fraud and irregularities filed by Unity Party of Joseph Boakai and the Liberty Party of Charles Brumskine.
“I am not convinced that the issue raised in the complaints amounts to fraud because the parties have failed to prove beyond all reasonable doubt that NEC committed fraud in the October 10, elections.” Cllr. Muana Ville, hearing officer of NEC, said in his ruling Monday evening.
According to the hearing officer, the Unity Party and the liberty who had the burden of proof were not capable to show anywhere in the record that Fraud was committed to amount to canceling the elections.
Cllr. Frank Musa Dean, lawyer of the NEC, argued that Unity Party and Liberty reminded him about two different students who took his test and failed the examination.
“One of the students (UP) made D for a grade point and the other made (F) for a grade point. The two parties went to the elections of October 10, 2017and failed to get the require points for winning the elections. Now they are asking the instructor (NEC) for make- up or free grade.” Musa Dean said during the argument.
Cllr. Oswald Tweh, lawyer of the Liberty Party, argued that there was lack of queue controllers on elections day, that some polling places were changed without notice, that some voters’ names were not on the Final Registration Roll (FRR) and were allowed to vote, that there were no serial numbers on the ballot among others things.
The parties have announced an appeal to the Board of Commissioners of NEC stating that they will take advantage of the law.
