Nimba County Senator Prince Y. Johnson is currently undergoing an intensive probe by the Senate for his recent revelation of electoral fraud allegedly committed by the former chair of the National Election Commission (NEC) James Fromoyan, Pro-tempore Gbehzohngar Findley revealed over the weekend.
At a by-monthly press conference held in Monrovia, Senator Findley announced that the Senate has constituted itself into a single committee for the sole purpose of investigating the Nimba County Senator for his statement. He announced that the Senate began the hearing the matter since last Thursday.
Senator Johnson’s recent claims of electoral fraud, implicating President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and the former NEC chair, James Fromayan, in irregularities which turned the elections in the incumbent’s favor has been met with stiff resistance from the former NEC chair, who thinks the Nimba County Senator is “crazy”.
At a by-monthly press conference held in Monrovia, Senator Findley announced that the Senate has constituted itself into a single committee for the sole purpose of investigating the Nimba County Senator for his statement. He announced that the Senate began the hearing the matter since last Thursday.
Senator Johnson’s recent claims of electoral fraud, implicating President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and the former NEC chair, James Fromayan, in irregularities which turned the elections in the incumbent’s favor has been met with stiff resistance from the former NEC chair, who thinks the Nimba County Senator is “crazy”.
According to the Nimba County Senior Senator, when candidates on the Unity Party’s (UP) ticket noticed that the results were not going their way, they requested his intervention to help turn the tide. Senator Johnson said he immediately informed President Sirleaf about the situation, who in turn, instructed the former NEC chairman to ensure that the UP partisans who were losing, won the elections.
But Fromayan has described Prince Johnson as a “Psychopath; a mass murderer, who needs psychiatric treatment.” He said Senator Johnson needs “to go to the psychiatrist and receive treatment for a mental disorder as Mr. Johnson is not a sound person.”
Besides, arguing that electoral fraud is a criminal offense, opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) has already begun pressing for an investigation of those enlisted by Senator Johnson in his comments regarding James Fromoyan, President Sirleaf, and himself.
The 2011 election was marred by serious controversies which led to the resignation of Fromayan, after he signed and gave a letter which declared the CDC winner of the first round. The NEC later declared that the letter was an error, prompting the CDC to boycott the run-off in November of the same year, undercutting voter turn-out by more than half of the total registered number.
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf had herself made a casual reference some time ago, related to some comments relayed to her as coming from some Liberian female supporters. They were reported to have said that they helped to discourage their children from voting by hiding their voting cards.
When confronted on the matter at home, the President also had suggested that those making an issue of her comments about comments other people had made, needed to have their heads checked out, as it amounted to little more than ‘hearsay and would not be credited in a court of law---lacking ‘materiality’ (consequence, importance) in a legal context.
Where this exercise will lead is anyone’s guess; might James Fromayan and President Ellen Johnson be interrogated (asked questions) as well? How reliable a witness could Johnson be? Of what relevance could such a still-to-be substantiated (proved) claim be to this President who already dismissed the earlier matter out of hand with a demurrer (“What am I supposed to do if someone decided to hide her son’s card---and later tells someone about it? And I get to hear about, whether true or not?! So I did bad by mentioning it? Then go sue me.)
But Senator Johnson’s revelation seems to obviously, carry some weight with the Senate, which helps explain a somewhat renewed interest in the matter, as per Senate Pro-Tempore Findley’s statement regarding the probe that he confirmed, is underway.
Explained Senator Findley: "I was not a part of the Executive Session that began the investigation. But what I can say is that the findings of the investigation will be made public soon. The Senate, as a responsible body, is doing its best in this matter. I can't preempt the outcome of the investigation right now. All I can say is that the Senate attaches seriousness to this matter," Senator Findley concluded.
Keith Morris contributed to this story
But Senator Johnson’s revelation seems to obviously, carry some weight with the Senate, which helps explain a somewhat renewed interest in the matter, as per Senate Pro-Tempore Findley’s statement regarding the probe that he confirmed, is underway.
Explained Senator Findley: "I was not a part of the Executive Session that began the investigation. But what I can say is that the findings of the investigation will be made public soon. The Senate, as a responsible body, is doing its best in this matter. I can't preempt the outcome of the investigation right now. All I can say is that the Senate attaches seriousness to this matter," Senator Findley concluded.
Keith Morris contributed to this story
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