Recently, the National Elections Commission (NEC) in a meeting attended by political parties, partners both local and international as well as civil society organizations announced the adjusted electoral timetable ahead of the Tuesday, October 10, 2023 General Elections which remained constant.
Accordingly, NEC said phase one of the Biometric Voter Registration will be held from Monday, March 20 to Sunday, April 9 in Montserrado, Margibi, Grand Bassa, Bomi, Grand Cape Mount and Gbarpolu Counties.
Phase two will be in Rivercess, Sinoe, Grand Kru, Rivergee, Nimba, Bong and Lofa counties from Tuesday, April 9 to Tuesday, May 11, 2023 while candidate’s nomination is from Wednesday, June 14 to Friday, July 14; and campaign is from Saturday, August 5 to Sunday, October 8, 2023.
But most importantly, NEC insists that the final results of the general elections will be held on Wednesday, October 25, 2023 and that all dates in the revised document are all important with the hope that there will be no distraction which could create another setback and delay of the process.
We are of the strongest conviction that prior to the announcement of the timetable, the Board of Commissioners might have done their homework properly as we do not want excuses of delay in the process, anticipating that there will be exceptional cases like going for legal interpretations when the need arise which will take some time and might affect the timetable.
If there is any of such, we then warn that politicians take note of the timetable and the period allotted to each exercise so that in the middle or at the conclusion of the event, no one cries fouls as being doing so will create a daunt on the entire process and question its fairness and transparency.
Again, having the voter registration in the same year as the national election is something to ponder over and given that it is schedule to be over five months before the elections is another issue to be agreed upon wholistically.
Best, if we may term it that way, all parties were present during the pronouncement and without any opposing view listened to the adjusted dates giving a picture that it meant consent.
Howbeit, as the political parties are to keep abreast the key electoral dates; we call on the NEC too to be mindful about its own dates with the caveat that by October 25 all results would have been announced and by doing so, we can assure that the NEC’s ability to conduct a peaceful and credible elections in Liberia.