ECOWAS Preliminary Declaration on Presidential Election in Libera

1. It would be recalled that following the multi-tier elections of 10 October 2023 in Liberia to elect a President, 15 members of the Senate and 73 House Repre- sentatives none of the candidates vying for President obtained the minimum threshold of more than 50 per cent of the votes, as required by law to emerge victorious.

From the official results declared by the National Elections Com- mission (NEC) on 24 October 2023, President George Manneh Weah of the Co- alition for Democratic Change (CDC) obtained the highest number of votes of 804,087, representing 43.83 percent, followed by former Vice President Jo- seph N. Boakai of the Unity Party (UP), who obtained 796,961 votes, represent- ing 43.44 percent. Consequently, the NEC announced 14 November 2023 as the date for a run-off between the two frontrunners.

2. Against this backdrop, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, His Excellency Omar Alieu TOURAY, authorized the return of the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission (EOM) to the country from 6 November 2023 to cover the run-off. The 80-member Mission is led by Professor Attahiru JEGA, former Chairperson of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and supported by the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security of the ECOWAS Commission, Ambassador Abdel-

Fatau MUSAH, and a technical team from the ECOWAS Commission. The EOM is also supported by the Resident Representative of ECOWAS in Liberia, Ambassador Josephine Nkrumah.
II.

PRE-ELECTION ENGAGEMENTS WITH STAKEHOLDERS

3. Upon arrival in Monrovia on 9 November 2023, the Head of Mission and his delegation held consultations with relevant stakeholders, including the Pres- ident of the Republic and candidate of the CDC, H.E. George Weah, and the Unity Party (UP) candidate, former Vice President Joseph Boakai. The Mission equally held consultations with the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, the Chairperson and Commissioners of the National Elections Commission (NEC), and other critical stakeholders including Civil Society organizations.
4. Even though the electoral campaigns were generally peaceful, the Mission noted disturbing incidents and hold-ups in Lofa, Nimba, Bong, Montserrado, among other flashpoints, which in some instances led to bodily harm and sub- sequent hospitalization.
III.

BRIEFING AND DEPLOYMENT

5. The 80 members of the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission (EOM) were briefed on the political and security situation in the country and taken through a pre-deployment training on the ECOWAS election observation manual and data capturing devices. Subsequently, the observers were deployed through- out the 15 counties of the country.

6. On the eve of the election, the President of the ECOWAS Commission issued a statement calling on all stakeholders to commit to preserve the peace and stability of the Republic of Liberia before, during, and after the election. He further urged the candidates, their political alliances, and supporters to be guided by the spirit of national unity, peace, and stability, and adhere to the expressed commitments made within the framework of the Revised Farmington River Declaration.
IV.

ELECTION DAY

7. On Election Day, the Mission deployed 80 observers, grouped into 36 teams,
across the length and breadth of the country. The teams visited a total of 487 Polling Stations spread across both urban (56%) and rural areas (44%) in all the 15 counties of the country, and reported the following:

Opening of the Polls

8. The ECOWAS observers witnessed the opening at 47 Polling Stations. Generally, all the 47 polling stations visited at the start of polls opened within half an hour of the official opening time of 08:00 am. No significant delays were recorded at the start of polls. The teams also observed a rather faster processing of voters than what transpired during the general elections on 10 October 2023.

On the average, it took about two minutes to process voters from the issuing of ballot papers to the casting of their votes. This was a marked improvement over the first-round elections held on 10 October 2023. This is attributable to, among other factors, greater familiarity of NEC officials with the process and the reduced number of elections. In addition, each polling station boasted at least two polling booths, which accelerated the voting process.

9. The atmosphere at the Polling Stations was generally peaceful with security agents present in 95.74% of the Polling Stations visited.

The few places that the ECOWAS observers did not notice security personnel included Barclayville Centre High School, Topoh in Grand Kru County; Bassa High, Buchanan in Grand Bassa County; Bonjeh Public School, Dewoin, in Bomi County; Dorothy Cooper High School, Gbarnga Jorquelleh, in Bong County.

The rest are Sac- lepea Johnny Voker School Polling Station, Saclepea City, District 7, Lower Nimba in Nimba County; Sosomolahun Public School, and St. Agnes Catholic School, all in Kolahun, Lofa County. The ECOWAS Mission also observed secu- rity patrols across voting precincts. It is to be noted, however, that the absence of security personnel did not result in undue disturbances at the stations visited.

10.A significant number of party agents and representatives were seen at the polling stations. All the polling stations visited had agents of the two contesting candidates and parties present. On average, about two agents per candidate were seen at the polling stations observed.

11.international and Domestic election observers from the European Union, the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA), African Union, West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), Women Situation Room, and the Liberia Elections Observers Network (LEON), among others, were spotted in various polling precincts visited. However, ECOWAS observers came across more domestic observers than international observers.

12. In all, the ECOWAS teams observed 440 Polling Stations in all 15 Counties dur- ing the voting process, after the opening of polls. Overall, voting materials were largely available in 99.33%, and in sufficient quantities, in polling sta- tions that the ECOWAS observers visited. With respect to inclusion, 384 polling stations visited, representing 78.2%, were accessible to Persons Living with Disability (PLWDs).

In addition, in about 407 polling stations, representing 91.46%, special arrangements and assistance were provided for the aged and persons living with disability. This was a marked departure from the previous elections on 10 October 2023, where in most cases such special arrangements were not made for the aged and persons living with disabilities. Observers also reported that there were tactile ballot jackets in 59% of the polling stations
visited.

13. All Polling stations visited were set up in a way that guaranteed the secrecy of the ballot. In general, voters were required to present their voters’ ID card to cast their ballot. In 16 Polling stations visited (representing 3.6%), observers witnessed that voters were allowed to vote even though their names were not on the voters’ register at those stations. Some of the people who were allowed this dispensation included polling staff and security personnel on duty, as well as drivers of international observers (who could produce voter identity cards). This dispensation was allowed in compliance with the NEC manual on polling process where voting by polling staff, NEC officials on duty, Election security personnel, international observers’ drivers, and other special civil servants, are allowed, provided the voter is in possession of a valid 2023 BVR card, an accreditation badge issued by the NEC, or personal or work-related ID card. This measure is commendable as it was also the case during the multi-tier elections on 10 October 2023. However, as the Presidential election is a one- constituency poll, it was easier to allow out-of-area votes, once the voters possessed a valid BVR card.

. Observers did not witness any active campaigning in about 99.78% the Polling precincts visited. However, at New Kru Town Administrative Building Polling Precinct, in Kru Town, Montserrado County, and Sammy M. Dukuly School, Soul Clinic E, Paynesville in Monrovia, disputes ensued when party supporters were respectively seen canvassing for votes for their candidates. In each of the instances the offending persons were eventually removed with the support of the security personnel, thus allowing for normalcy to return and the process to resume.

15. Two notable incidents, however, occurred. The first was at the Bishop Nah
Dixon School, New Kru Town, Montserrado County, where some voters com- plained that the ballot papers issued to them did not have a stamp at the back. This led to chaotic scenes leading to suspension of the voting process for a while, as the security officer got overwhelmed. The situation was eventually resolved when the persons involved were evicted from the station, with the arrival of police reinforcement. Upon further inquiry, our observers were in- formed and confirmed by party agents present that indeed the ballot papers had been stamped except the stamps were not so obvious due to how the papers were folded before handing them over.

The other incident worth mentioning occurred at the Polling Place 2, Administrative Building, City Hall, Tub- manburg District in Bomi County. The Presiding Officer raised an alarm on three individuals suspected to be inducing voters with money, whilst voting was in progress. The said individuals became enraged and went on a rampage, leading to the suspension of the voting process. The security officer, who was obviously overwhelmed, had to call for reinforcement, as the situation was getting out of hand. Voting eventually resumed, after calm had been restored.

Closing and Counting
16. Generally voting ended on time at 6:00 pm, as, at the time of closing, most of the stations had no voters on the queues. Indeed, 96.3% of polling stations observed had no voter on the queue at the closing time. The only polling station observed that closed after 6:00 pm had just three (3) voters on the queue.

17.In all the polling stations visited, the opening of ballot boxes, sorting, counting
and tallying of ballots were done at the stations and in clear view of party agents and election observers. In addition, since voting closed on time in most of the polling stations visited, counting was done and concluded without the need for adequate lighting system, as the counting did not travel deep into the night.
18. Reconciliation and Results Forms (RRFs) were filled out at the Polling stations
and party agents were allowed to endorse them.
V.
PRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS
19. The Mission notes, with concern, the challenge that some of the ECOWAS Elec- tion Observers faced in the course of their duty. In some polling stations ob- servers were not given the required information upon request by the polling agents, who appeared hostile to them. These unfortunate occurrences hap- pened particularly in St. Paul River District in Montserrado County. For in- stance, at the Fiama Calvalry Baptist School polling station in Greater Monro- via, Montserrado County, the Presiding Officer flatly refused to cooperate with our teams in providing information, despite the observers clearly identifying themselves with their accreditation.

20. The Mission further notes that, notwithstanding few incidents of non-cooperative attitude exhibited by some few Polling Officers, the polling process generally proceeded smoothly and in a largely peaceful atmosphere. Eligible voters were able to freely exercise their franchise. The Mission also commends the electoral management body and their agents for the marked improvement in processing voters, which greatly accelerated the voting process.

21. The ECOWAS Election Observation Mission wishes to appeal to all stakeholders, particularly the political parties, candidates, and their supporters, as well as the general citizenry to remain calm and patiently wait for the official declaration of the results by the National Elections Commission, the sole authority mandated to do so under the law.
22.Similarly, the Mission urges the candidates, their political alliances, and sup- porters to be guided by the spirit of national unity, peace, and stability, and adhere to the expressed commitments made within the framework of the Re- vised Farmington River Declaration. In this regard, the Mission appeals to all stakeholders to refrain from any acts of incitement that would undermine the peace. It also calls on the security agents to maintain professionalism in the execution of their duties for the maintenance of order in the country.

23. The Mission urges the National Elections Commission to diligently work to ensure the timely and transparent release of the results, to consolidate the enviable gains made in the handling of the 10 October 2023 general elections in a way that will ensure the stability of the country.

24.The Mission also urges the winners of the polls to remain magnanimous in their victory and to be graciously conciliatory to forestall any breaches of the peace in order to maintain the stability of the country.
25. The Mission will continue to closely monitor the concluding phases of the electoral process, in particular the tabulation and transmission of results from the counties, their aggregation at the national level and the declaration of the preliminary results by the NEC and will make further pronouncements should the need arise.

26. Finally, the Mission highly commends the electorate for the patience and sense of patriotism exhibited by them and would wish to urge same display of high sense of maturity, whilst awaiting the official announcement of the results by the National Elections Commission.

27.In conclusion, the ECOWAS Observation Mission notes that the electoral process has exposed the Liberian society as sharply divided and requires urgent steps to foster greater inclusivity in governance, social cohesion, and national unity, by whoever emerges victorious in the run-off election.