Ex-VP Boakai Confident of Victory …cautions Against Cheating

As eligible Liberian voters prepare for the polls on tomorrow, Tuesday, November 14, 2023 to elect the President who will steer the affairs of the state in the next six years in a Presidential Run-off Election, former Vice President and Standard Bearer of the Unity Party (UP), Joseph Nyuma Boakai is upbeat about securing victory.

The ensuing Presidential run-off is necessitated by the failure of any of the 20 political parties, most especially with none of the two forerunners satisfying Article 83(b) of the Liberian Constitution, which requires a presidential candidate to win through an absolute majority.

Article 83(b) of the Liberian Constitution – organic law of the country states that: “All elections of public officers shall be determined by an absolute majority of the votes cast. If no candidate obtains an absolute majority in the first ballot, a second ballot shall be conducted on the second Tuesday following. The two candidates who received the greatest numbers of votes on the first ballot shall be designated to participate in the run-off election.”

But contrary to this this constitutional requirement, President George Manneh Weah of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change(CDC) obtained CDC 804,087 or 43.83 percent of the votes, while main opposition leader Boakai of the UP got 796,961 votes, which constitute 43.44 percent of the total valid votes cast.

Accordingly, in a nationwide address delivered at his residence in Paynesville, outside Monrovia on Sunday, November 12, 2023, the UP standard bearer pointed out that change is inevitable and now imminent, noting that the day of reckoning is near for Mr. Weah and his co-conspirators, as his government aims to end innate greed and self-aggrandizement.

With confidence in his speech amid cheers from across the table from UP officials and collaborators, the Liberian statesman was upbeat about his expected election in ensuing Tuesday poll.

On the heel of this huge expectation, the former Liberia’s Vice President promised to bring an end to juvenile delinquent leadership and reckless governance, lawlessness and industrialized corruption and the tears of our mothers, relatives and friends who continue to weep for their children and loved ones who were the victims of disappearances and mysterious murders as well as drugs abuse.

“Fellow Liberians, we have outlined these violations to narrate the fear that has gripped Mr. Weah and his Party and to state our confidence to win these elections. We know change is inevitable and now imminent. For Mr. Weah and his co-conspirators, the day of reckoning is near: innate greed and self-aggrandizement will end.”

“Fellow Liberians, it is the end of juvenile delinquent leadership and reckless governance. It is an end to lawlessness and industrialized corruption. It is the end to the tears of our mothers, relatives and friends who continue to weep for their children and loved ones who were the victims of disappearances and mysterious murders. For many parents, it is the end to the drug epidemic and the Kush invasion.”

But amid his high level of confidence, the former Vice President still smells some semblances and alleged strategies by the ruling establishment to rig the pending democratic process; and as such, he issued a stern warning of the would-be consequences thereof.

“The Unity Party and its allies are matured and responsible enough to understand the reckless misadventure of Mr. Weah, his government and Party and understand his feeble strategy to desperately hold on to power. We dare Mr. Weah to tamper with our votes and rig these elections.”

“The consequences on him will be devastating and unimagined. We are committed to protecting the Liberian votes and permitting the will of the majority to prevail. With the runoff elections scheduled on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, it is becoming obvious that the only strategy left with George Weah and his CDC is to engage in fear mongering and in some cases vain attempts to eliminate strong opponents. They want to deter peaceful Liberians from turning out in their mass to vote against the failed CDC government,” he furthered.

In a related development, former Vice President Boakai has reported several incidences of violence against officials and supporters of the UP allegedly orchestrated by the ruling CDC.

“In recent days, Mr. Weah and his Government have violated all principles and laws that promote democracy and free and fair elections. He has wantonly flaunted and committed serious violations of our constitution, regional and international laws, especially the ECOWAS Protocol. On Friday, November 10, 2023, while our Vice Standard Bearer, Senator Jeremiah Kpan Koung and Senator Prince Yormie Johnson were leading scheduled campaign activities in Zor Zualay, Nimba County, they narrowly escaped death when their convoy came under a hail of gunfire,” he reported.

“We later learned that a certain Anthony Quiwonkpa, a staff in the office of Mr. George Weah, was responsible for this deadly attack which was premeditated and planned to disrupt and prevent the Vice Standard Bearer from campaigning.

As a result of this brazen disregard for human lives, about 7 persons were wounded and several vehicles damaged.”

He alleged that investigation conducted by the UP so far suggests that this callous act of lawlessness was masterminded and orchestrated by President Weah and his operatives hoping that they can instill fear in the People of Nimba and the Liberian Populace.

“The UP wishes all those injured in the attacks a speedy recovery. They are true heroes. Their sacrifices will not be in vain. They are true patriots with a cause to defend. We condemn this gross violation of our laws and call on the Government of Liberia to act swiftly in bringing the violators to justice. We call on our international partners to take note of these gross breaches of international laws. We intend to register our position through the appropriate legal channels.”

“In River Gee County where technical trainings were scheduled to commence on Wednesday, November 8th, 2023, our team was harassed and later a Ghanaian National, Sumson Essien Jnr, who was providing technical assistance to us, was arrested by the Police and later subjected to cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment.”

“Our vehicle, 174 smart telephones, and several elections related materials were confiscated. The Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Justice refused to respect court summons and demonstrated the most wanton disregard for our courts especially after a petition for the writ of habeas corpus was prayed for and granted. They were complicit and sneaked Mr. Essien to Monrovia under the cover of darkness. This is unaccepted! No deportation hearings were conducted and Mr. Essien was criminalized without due process.”

With Mr. Essien reportedly released deported, Mr. Boakai stressed the need for investigation of what he termed as “Kangaroo” process and circumstances surrounding this development.

Meanwhile, in support of former VP Boakai’s high level of optimism at the pending poll, partisans and supporters of the former ruling UP overcrowded the streets on Saturday in jubilant mood and were seen celebrating with pre victory songs.

With a chant of “victory is sure,” partisans and supporters of the UP, who trooped to the streets, vowed to go all out on Elections Day to overwhelmingly vote their candidate with the goal of making President Weah of the ruling CDC a ‘One-Term’ President.

The final day activities were well attended with similar spirit as the previous held prior to the October 10 Presidential and Legislative Election.