It is exactly a month since President George Weah nominated several persons as commissioners of the National Elections Commission (NEC); but those appointments were subject to confirmation hearing by the Liberian Senate.
Since the expiration of the tenure of the Commissioners of the National Elections Commission (NEC) who did exceptionally well by the ushering in the leadership of President George Weah through a democratic process, many politicians are beginning to wonder why the chief executive is taking so long to announce a chairperson to that Commission which will be a litmus test for whoever sits atop that integrity institution during the General and Presidential Elections in 2023.
Five persons were nominated and each was given the opportunity to face the Senate Committee and four were successful to reach the Senate’s plenary and approved as Commissioners but the Chairperson-designate, Ndubusi Nwabudike was recalled just before the committee could submit its report to the plenary.
Though the President did not give reason for his action in the midst of mounting pressures on the Senate not to confirm some of the nominees, it was glaring that the confirmation of the Chairperson-designate would have not left the corridors of the Liberian Senate due to his inaccurate statements couple with his alleged fake nationality documents provided the committee even if he was not recalled.
However, with barely four months to the special senatorial elections that should usher in 15 new senators constituting half of the senators who are supposed to complete a quorum for the conduct of business in the Legislature including being present for the President’s next annual message, eye brows are beginning to raise again as to what is causing the delay in appointing a new Chairperson.
On April 2, President Weah, who provided no reasons for his decision, informed the President Pro-Tempore of the Liberia Senate in a communication that he was withdrawing the nomination of Nwabudike and closed his communication only by presenting his compliments to that body.
Since then, nothing has been heard from the Presidency besides authorizing the Co-chairperson Davidetta Lassanna to act as Chairperson until the Chairperson is nominated but that this is also unprecedented especially knowing that the tenure of five Commissioners including the chairperson would have expired in this crucial year.
It is no secret that there are equally qualified individuals whom many believe could be named for which there should be no delay if the Presidency takes the matter of elections preparations seriously judging from constraints in procuring logistics, scouting funding, as well as engendering the political will to ensure that the needed support is provided in real time.
Many persons have already begun eying individuals of trust who might be best suited for the post based on their credibility and integrity and the public perception has under the microscope Ambassador Dee Max Kemayah, Associate Justice Jamesetta Howard Wolokollie; Cllr. T. Negbalee Warner; Cllr. Tiawon Gongloe; Cllr. Gloria Musu Scott; Cllr. Koffi Woods; Cllr. Jonathan Weedor; Mr. Dorbor Jallah and Ms. Leymah Gbowee; just to name a few.
The name Dorbor Jallah, stands out in terms of integrity as he is the winner of the 2018 edition of Integrity Idol Liberia a ‘naming and faming’ initiative which highlights the effort of the most honest government civil servant is another individual who many persons believe is best suited for this position of high integrity. His admiration dates back to the stance he took at the UL when an examination he spearheaded saw over 20, 000 applicants fail as well as his roles in the investigation of the Private Use Permit (PUP) sage, which was a massive abuse of the forest sector of the country by concessionaires while serving as Executive Director of the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC). Mr. Jallah, being outright and principle-minded is also a former professor at the UL with an undaunted record of possessing a responsible work approach and ensuring standards in the midst of challenges.
Associate Justice Jamesetta Wolokollie, the first vice president of the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL), rose to the position of Associate Justice in 2007 and one of her landmark decisions which is recorded to date is her refusal to sign the 3-1 judgment which gave the Legislature the right to sit over an impeachment trial stating that her colleagues were in error in the trial of former Associate Justice, Cllr. Kabineh Ja’neh by the Liberian Senate.
But siting with four other justices on the Supreme Court bench, Associate Justice Wolokollie argued at the time that a review of the senators’ petition simply stated that the Constitution being the supreme law and having a binding force and effect on all authorities and persons, any law regulations, etc found to be inconsistent with the Constitution shall be the extent of the inconsistency be void and of no legal effect.
Cllr. T. Negbalee Warner, an Assistant Professor, a former Dean of the Louise Arthur School of Law and a partner of the Heritage Law Firm with over 19 years of law practice in the country, a transparency and anti-corruption expert based in Liberia, once headed the Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI) and also the University of Liberia legal unit of lawyers and paralegal personnel. He is a member of the board of examiners of the Supreme Court Bar and once served as the Executive Director at the Central Bank of Liberia.
Cllr. Gloria Maya Musu Scott, a prestigious Harvard Law School graduate reached the peak of her legal profession in Liberia when she served as the chief priest of the highest court of the land, the Supreme Court. Cllr. Scott who remains a practicing lawyer since then was also elected as Senator of Maryland County which introduced her as a politician; advocating for the passage of several women’s rights laws including the Rape Law and the Inheritance Law as well as the introduction of a bill called the ‘boyfriend and girlfriend’ Law which never left the corridors of the Liberian Senate.
Leymah Roberta Gbowee, the famous 2019 national Independence Day orator who gave the different positions of individuals in the country, is another person who has always been tipped for positions in government having led a non-violent movement for peace in Liberia during its hay days. The Nobel Peace Prize Award winner is known globally for her mass action for peace-Pray the Devil Back to Hell.
Cllr. Jonathan Weedor, having served as Co-chair of the NEC with oversight responsibilities over policy making, training, staffing and finance, many believe could be the right nominee since he has served that Commission for almost 16 years and is considered as the doyen of the Commission. He holds a Master of Arts Degree in Sustainable Development from the SIT Graduate Institute at Brattleboro, USA.
Cllr. Tiawon Gongloe, a respected lawyer is the president of the Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA), a household name in the persistency and determination as well as activism and advocate for human and social rights regardless of whom he opposes. Cllr. Gongloe, a professor of law once served as the country’s Solicitor General.
Another individual tipped for the position is Cllr. Koffi Woods, grounded human rights activist, a politician and academia. He is the founding director of the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission of Liberia. Cllr. Woods served the country as a Minister of Labor and later a Minister of Public Works. He honorably resigned his post in government and since then he has been living a private life. Ambassador Kemayah, who holds a master’s degree, is former president of the Liberian Business Association and the founding chairman for the Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE)
Written By C. Winnie Saywah-Jimmy.