By Grace Q. Bryant
Despite public outcry from residents of District #11, the Supreme Court of Liberia has mandated the National Elections Commission (NEC) to comply with its August 31, 2023 judgment immediately, and file a returns to the mandate as to how it was executed.
The High Court’s September 5, 2023 action means that Thomas Nimene Tweh, alias Original Country Man, will have to wait until 2029 before contesting for the District #11 Representative Seat.
According to the mandate, “In keeping with instructions of the Honorable Supreme Court of the Republic of Liberia, I have the honor to transmit the accompanying certified copy of the Opinion and Judgment handed down by the Honorable Supreme Court on the 31st Day of August, A. D. 2023.
“You are hereby commanded to comply with the foregoing judgment immediately and file your returns to this mandate as to how it was executed,” the court document stated.
It can be recalled, on August 31, 2023, the High Court disqualified Original Country Man from contesting the October 10 elections, due to claims from the Geo-Information Services (GIS) of the National Elections Commission (NEC) that he is not domiciled in electoral District #11; as such, he is not eligible to contest in the district.
Giving the judgment on behalf of the court, Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene G. Yuoh said it is the National Elections Commission’s Nomination and Registration Procedures that only candidates, participating political parties, coalition, and alliances are competent to challenge nominees on the provisional list of the 2023 General and Presidential Elections; therefore, Siah J. Tandapolie of the New Liberia Party, and Mr. Emmanuel Togbah of the All Liberian Party, both have the standing to challenge the nomination of Thomas Nimene Tweh.
James Marwieh, who is a voter, did not fall in any of NEC Regulations; as such, he lacks the legal capacity and standing to challenge the nomination of Original Country Man.
According to Chief Justice Yuoh, the ruling of the Board of Commissioners of the National Elections Commission, which confirmed the ruling of the Hearing Officers qualifying ‘Original Country Man’ to contest the elections, is reversed.
She ordered the Clerk, Cllr. Sam Mamulu, to send down a mandate to NEC to resume jurisdiction over the case and give effect to the judgment.
Hours after the Supreme Court of Liberia disqualified Montserrado County District#11 candidate Thomas N. Tweh, commonly known as Original Country Man, from contesting the pending elections, hundreds of citizens took to various roads and set up blocks.
The angry residents, believed to be supporters of Original Country Man, were seen chanting pro-slogans of the disqualified candidate, saying there will be no election in the district if their candidate is not allowed to contest.
