Supreme Court to hear Disqualified Country Man Case Today

The Supreme Court of Liberia will today, Thursday, September 28, 2023 hear an argument in the application filed by Thomas Nimene Tweh commonly known as Original Countryman of District #11 Montserrado County as it relates to the full bench of the Supreme Court ruling of him being disqualification.

This comes as a result of Siah Jamie Tandapolie of the New Liberia Party (NLP), James Marwieh Eminent and others complaint filed before the National Elections Commission (NEC) against Country Man Tweh on grounds that he is an American citizen who has not denounced one of his allegiances and is not a legitimate resident of District Eleven. Meaning, Mr. Tweh does not reside in District # 11 rather in Louisiana, which is District #1, God Grace Community in Louisiana.

When the matters was heard, NEC ruled in favor of Tweh of which the complainant filed a petition before the full bench of the Supreme Court.

On August 31, 2023, Chief Justice Sie-Nyene Yuoh ruled that the Geo-Information Services (GIS) of the NEC established that Mr. Tweh is not domiciled in Electoral District#11. Meaning he is not eligible to contest in the said District according to the proceedings in election.

According to Article 30 (b) of the 1986 Liberian Constitution, which provides that “citizens of Liberia who meet the following qualifications are eligible to become members of the Legislature shall be domiciled in the country or constituency to be represented not less than one year prior to the time of the election and be a taxpayer.”

Chief Justice Youh ordered the Clerk of Court to send a mandate to the National Elections Commission to enforce its August 31, 2023 judgment disqualifying Representative District #11 Candidate Original Countryman.

She furthered that the ruling of the Board of Commissioners of the NEC, which confirmed the ruling of the Hearing Officers hereby reversed said ruling, adding, to resume jurisdiction over the case and give effect to its Judgment costs are ruled against the appellee.

On September 5, 2023, the Supreme Court sent a communication to the Chairperson of the NEC, ordering the electoral body to implement the opinion and judgment of the Supreme Court handed down.

“A communication from the high court says you are hereby commanded to comply with the foregoing judgment immediately and your return to this Mandate as to how it was executed,” the Supreme Court mandated.

After this mandate was sent out to the NEC of disqualifying Original Country Man, he then filed an application of Special Leave before the full bench of the Supreme Court.

“You are hereby commanded to notify the parties in the above entitled cause of action or their legal representative (s) that the Honorable Supreme Court of the Republic of Liberia will hear argument in said cause on the 28th day of September A.D. 2023 at the hour of 11:00 am and that they are cited to be present for same,’’ the high court stated.