The National Elections Commission’s Magistrate in upper Bong County has warned residents in the county who are in the habit of tearing down campaign materials of some candidates during these electioneering periods, to desist, or else, when caught, they shall have themselves to blame.
Daniel Newland told the media that there are some unscrupulous people in the county bent on tearing down campaign materials of some candidates, which does not augur well because it has the potential to stir-up electoral violence, which could disrupt the peace and stability of the country.
He therefore calls on local officials, including commissioners, paramount, clan, and town chiefs, as well as women and youth leaders in the county, to speak to their people, mostly young people, to desist from tearing campaign materials of candidates.
The Magistrate’s caveat comes following a formal complaint lodged with NEC’s local office in upper Bong County by an Independent Senatorial Candidate, Johnny K. Kpehe, who claimed that his campaign materials, like posters and banners in the county have being torn down by some individuals.
Complainant Kpehe stated that he is a law abiding person who does not want to take the law into his own hands, for which he decided to forward a formal complaint to the electoral regulator (NEC) to warn those involved to stop, because not doing so is tantamount to electoral violence.
Continuing, Newland, among many things, said the continued destruction of campaign materials belonging to candidates in the county has the potential of bringing about electoral violence during these electioneering periods, for the Tuesday, October 10 Presidential and Legislative polls.
He therefore warned the locals, most especially young people, to desist, if not, when caught, the law shall take its full course, because those uncivilized behaviors are provocation which could stir-up serious electoral violence if they go unchecked in the county.
Independent candidate Kpehe is neither the first nor the last victim of such ugly behaviors on the part of some hooligans. Before then, Coalition for Democratic Change’s (CDC’s) Grand Bassa County Senatorial Candidate, Janjay Baikpeh, complained of similar behaviors by some individuals in his county.
Recently in Foya District, Lofa County police reportedly arrested one person and placed him in custody, to be arraigned in court today (Monday), August 21, for his alleged involvement in tearing down campaign materials such as posters or banners, said to belong to some political parties’ candidates.
The arrest came after a lady, only identified as Fanta, believed to be an owner of an entertainment center in Foya, lodged a formal complaint with the police against the accused, identified only as Kolubah, for allegedly tearing down some posters or banners said to be that of the CDC, from the wall at her place in the town.
The incident is said to have claimed the attention of local authorities in Foya District, Lofa County, who condemned same as an act of provocation which has the potential of stirring up electoral violence if a deterrent is not set on those accused if found guilty, following investigation into the matter.
