‘Do What Is Right’; President Sirleaf Charges NEC Commissioners

President Sirleaf commissioning the five NEC members

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Monday commissioned commissioners of the National Elections Commission (NEC); charging them to do what is right and in the best interest of the country’s emerging democracy.

She assured the commissioners that her administration will do well not to meddle with the activities of the Commission, stressing that the independence of the Commission will continue to be respected by government as it always has.

The Liberian leader tasked the new NEC commissioners to take on the responsibility by guiding and managing the processes of ensuring that the exercise of choice by the people in the selection of their leaders through election, is duly respected.

“It is a responsibility which demands integrity, commitment and dedication in the discharge of your duties,” she told the commissioners.

The Liberian Chief Executive furthered that “It is an awesome responsibility which demands the courage to respect and enforce the provisions of the Constitution and laws. It is an awesome responsibility which requires you to stand tall in doing what is right.”

She recalled and thanked former commissioners of the NEC for successfully conducting two general elections and 11 by-elections.

“They have served our country well and we wish to thank all of you. For those who have been asked to continue to serve, we know that we can count on you to bring the same the level of commitment and dedication to your responsibility. For those serving for the first time, we expect that you will bring to your responsibility, freshness of ideas, energy, dynamism and courage,” she said.

In response, NEC chair Jerome Kokoyah thanked the President for their preferment. He acknowledged that his role as NEC chair has more to do with Liberia, its stability and democracy; promising to live up to the task.

Kokoyah and team have a huge task awaiting them beginning with the conduct of the May 7, Grand Bassa County by-election, through to the 2014 senatorial election and the 2017 general and presidential elections.

The nomination of Cllr. Jerome Kokoyah as the new Chairman of the National Elections Commission (NEC) was met with open hostility from the opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) and the Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC), a Liberian civil society organization monitoring election issues in the country.

Both institutions wasted no time in calling on President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to withdraw the nomination, contending that Cllr. Kokoyah had been a district#1 contestant for a representative seat in the Lower House of the Legislature for Bong County in the 2011 elections. He ran on the ruling Unity Party ticket. The CDC called Kokoyah’s appointment by the President “an insult to democracy,” questioning the neutrality of Cllr. Kokoya.

This, according to them, makes the newly appointed NEC Chairman a member of the ruling Unity Party and as such, the appointment contravenes the country’s election law. They contended that Cllr. Kokoyah’s appointment as Chairman of NEC violated 1986 Elections Law section 2.5 which states:

“No commissioner, election officer or any employee of the Elections Commission shall be a member, or an affiliate of any political party, or of an association or organization; nor shall any commissioner, election officer or any employee of the Election Commission canvass for any elective public office directly or indirectly.”

The Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) is planning to stage a street protest in opposition to Cllr. Kokoyah’s new portfolio.

But the opposition Liberty Party has come out in strong support of the reconstituted commission, saying it is in conformity with the new elections law of the country.

Cllr. Kokoya has since pledged to be professional in the discharge of his duties; vowing not to allow politics to interfere with his job at NEC.

Those commissioned yesterday were Cllr. Jerome Kokoya, Chairman; Cllr. Sarah Toe, co-chair; Cllr. Elizabeth Nelson, member; Mr. Jonathan Weedor, member, Mr. Ansumana Kromah, member and Mr. Samuel Joe, member.

The President since revoked the nomination of 29-year-old Henrietta Madia Peters as a member of the NEC because her age falls below the required age range.