How Much NEC Requested For Nimba By-election? …As Access To Information Sparks Concern

By Bill W. Cooper
The National Elections Commission (NEC) is said to be facing serious criticism for its lack of transparency regarding the budget for the upcoming Nimba County Senatorial by-election slated for April of this year (2025).
With public concerns and speculations mounting, the Commission stated that discussions surrounding the budget are nearing completion, with 99.9 per cent of the discussions already finalized.
NEC, established to oversee and ensure free, fair and transparent electoral processes in Liberia, has a mandate to provide clear and accessible information regarding its operations, including budgetary projections, among others.
But the Commission’s recent silence on the Nimba County by-election budget has sparked frustration among stakeholders who are eager to understand how public funds are being utilized.
However, through the chairperson of the By-election Steering Committee, Commissioner Leo Barsee Kpangbai, refrained from disclosing specific figures or details, leaving many citizens and stakeholders in the dark.
The upcoming by-election in Nimba is necessitated by the death of former Senator Prince Yormie Johnson, which sad event occurred on November 28, 2024, and following his burial on January 17, 2025, the Liberian Senate officially notified the NEC of the vacancy in line with the Constitution.
Nimba County, known for its rich cultural heritage and strategic importance, has historically been a ‘battleground’ for political parties, making the upcoming election a focal point for both local and national interests and a path road for the 2029 elections.
It can be recalled that on February 17, 2025, it was reported that the NEC submitted a budget of over US$2.5 million for the upcoming April 22, 2025, Nimba County Senatorial By-election, raising concerns over its realism and transparency.
According to the information gathered, multiple sources from within the Commission further described the budget as excessive and unjustified, particularly when compared to the US$1.7 million spent on the 2024 senatorial by-election in the same county.
On Monday, February 10, 2025, NEC Co-Chairperson Teplah Reeves reaffirmed that the commission is constitutionally required, under Article 37 of the Liberian Constitution, to conduct the election within 90 days, setting the date for April 22, 2025.
While she and other commissioners at the same time announced the writ of election and other details, failed to disclose the budget for the by-election while addressing a press conference.
But addressing the press yesterday at his NEC office in Monrovia, Commissioner Kpangbai announced that activities for the by-election are progressing day-by-day, as both political parties and independent aspirants have begun processing their nomination packages at the NEC.
When quizzed about the exorbitant budget allegedly being submitted by the Commission for the election, Kpangbai asserted, “All I can say is that the budget discussion is at the final stage, and the commission will in the coming days receive the funds from the Finance Ministry.”
“And at this point, I can confirm that 99.9 per cent of discussions on the budget for the election is already concluded and that the final budget for the By-election is nearing approval, while a voting population of 307, 256 are expected to participate,” he revealed.
Meanwhile, some Liberians, including political analysts have all voiced their apprehensions regarding the NEC’s handling of the by-election’s budget, something they believe that transparency in the electoral process is crucial for maintaining public trust and ensuring a fair election.
They argued that transparency is the bedrock of any democracy as such when the public is kept in the dark about how much money is being allocated for elections, it raises questions about accountability and the integrity of the country’s electoral process.
Critics further argued that the Commission’s reluctance to provide detailed information about the budget only fuels speculation and distrust, and warned that ‘it is not enough to say that discussions are nearly completion, as the public deserves to know how much money is being allocated and how it will be spent.’