The Supreme Court of Liberia has disqualified Thomas Tweh, commonly called “Original Countryman”, for holding dual citizenship without denouncing.
The High Court also reversed the National Elections Commission ruling that confirms the ruling of the hearing officer to allow District #11 Representative Candidate, Thomas Nimene Tweh, to contest the election.
The court, in its opinion, delivered by Chief Justice Sie-Nyene Yuoh, said that Tweh is not eligible to contest the district in the ensuing October polls.
It can be recalled that District #11 Representative Candidate, Siah Tandapolie, complained to the NEC that Tweh is an American citizen who has not denounced one of his allegiances.
The matter went before the hearing officers of the NEC and later moved before the NEC full body and the hearing officers’ ruling was confirmed.
The NEC rules say only candidates, participating political parties, coalitions, and alliances are competent to challenge nominees on the provisional list of the 2023 General and Presidential Elections.
The High Court said that it was established by the Geo-information service of the NEC that Thomas Tweh is not a resident of Electoral District #11.
“That the National Elections Commission being authorized by law to investigate candidates and scrutinize documents proffered by aspirants /candidates seeking to contest in elections, such as an investigation into whether an aspirant or candidate has renounced his or her foreign nationality, cannot be equated to proceeding usurping the functions of the attorney general or minster of justice, under section 21.50 of the aliens and nationality law,” The Court said.
Speaking in an interview with judicial reporters, minutes after the ruling, Candidate Siah Tandapolie said no total stranger will lead the people of District #11.
She further revealed that it’s not about who wins the elections, but ensuring that the right things are done by the laws of the country.
Tandapolie maintained that a person aspiring to be a lawmaker must first be law abiding, as a first point of discipline, a character that Tweh lacks.
For his part, Cllr Lafayette Gould, who won the case on behalf of the complainant, expressed disappointment in the National Elections Commission for granting access to someone who holds dual citizenship.
