The National Elections Commission (NEC) says both voter’s roll exhibitions and the candidates’ nomination processes will begin as of Monday, June 12 to Friday, 14 July.
Thereafter, there shall be no extension in whatever form and manner for that matter.
NEC’s Chairperson, Davidetta Brown-Lansanah told the media yesterday in Monrovia that exhibitions of the voter’s roll shall last for one week beginning on June 12-18 while candidate’s nomination run from June 14 to July 14, 2023; as there will not be extension.
She said it becomes necessary for registrants or voters to verify whether or not their names are recorded in the updated voter’s roll following the cleaning-up exercise where duplicated or underage registrants have been deleted or removed.
Of the 2.4 million registrants, the Commission said 27, 192 registrants were duplicated across the 15 counties, while 529 registrants were flagged as suspected underage across the 15 counties stating that these records are being investigated through the adjudication process that ineligible registrants will be removed and where warranted their names will be referred to the Justice Ministry for prosecution.
For the candidates’ nomination exercise, Brown-Lansanah said qualified candidates shall begin picking up their package from the registration center designated in person and not by representation during the given timeframe.
She indicated that the Commission is leaving no stone unturned thereby expressing satisfaction over their work so far and upbeat that the general elections will be held in time as the process is proceeding accordingly.
According to the 2023 guidelines for candidate nomination, the NEC shall announce the date for the 2023 candidate nomination period, during which aspirants may apply to contest for an elected post for the said elections.
All political parties, alliances and coalitions shall hold their national conventions for the nomination of their respective candidates no later than one month prior to the commencement of the NEC 2023 candidate nomination.
It stated further that a political party, alliance or coalition, intending to field a candidate in the 2023 general elections, shall pick up the nomination package containing all relevant nomination forms at the center designated by the NEC. This shall apply to independent aspirants.
A party, coalition or alliance shall nominate only one candidate per each elective position. The Commission shall take all lawful steps, including the holding to stand for office, it shall notify the aspirant and the party, alliance, coalition and as the case may be, of the reasons for the rejection.
Such a rejection may be appealed to the Supreme Court within 48 hours of receipt of the determination. The Commission shall publish the names of qualified candidates.
