At least fourteen senators who were elected during the 2014 midterm polls, during the second term of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf from the 15 members vacating the Liberian Senate are expected to face citizens’ examination in their bids for reelection in October of this year.
This follows the anxious closure of the Senate early this week, as those seeking reelection are in preparation to begin campaigning, ahead of the Tuesday, October 10 Presidential and Legislative polls, which is poised to be tense.
Those senators seeking reelection are Prince Johnson of Nimba, Marshall Dennis of Grand Gedeh, Francis Paye of Rivercess, Jonathan Kaipay of Grand Bassa, Varney Sherman of Grand Cape Mount, Morris Saytumah of Bomi County and Daniel Naatahn of Gbarpolu County.
Others are Saah Joseph of Montserrado, Henrique Tokpah of Bong, Steve Zargo of Lofa, Albert Chie of Grand Kru, Milton Teahjay of Sinoe, and Commany Best Wesseh of Rivergee County; except for Margibi County, Jim W. Tornolah who is reportedly not seeking reelection, though not yet verified independently by this paper.
Early this year, senators who are seeking re-election at the polls in October were jittery, fearing that it may not come as scheduled.
The senators’ fear pushed them at that time to summon the National Elections Commission (NEC) to ascertain its level of preparation, considering the biometric voter registration exercise just a couple of weeks away.
The Senate, in a unanimous decision, cited the electoral body to appear before it to provide an update, regarding preparation for the Tuesday, October 10, Presidential and Legislative Elections.
It followed after the chairperson of the Senate committee on Rules, Order and Administration wrote a strongly-worded communication warning of the risks to the election calendar if NEC is not prepared in time for the nationwide biometric voter registration exercise. 
The letter from Senator Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence of Grand Bassa County at the time, who is not among the 15 senators seeking re-election, warned that there are visible indications that the “NEC is running against time on the conduct of the nationwide biometric voter registration exercise.”
“The ensuing October 10, 2023 Presidential and Legislative Elections present yet another historic opportunity for Liberia to foster a continuous path of sustained peace and democratic governance under the rule of law. To achieve this momentous accomplishment, the 2023 elections must be conducted in a credible, transparent, free and fair manner, as guaranteed by the new elections law of Liberia,” the Senator said.
Based on the importance of Karnga-Lawrence’s communication, the Senate unanimously voted to summon the NEC’s Board of Commissioners to discuss its preparedness to conduct the 2023 Presidential and Legislative Elections.
Majority of the senators then were worried that there could be a delay in the electoral process due to financial and other constraints, and would like to hear from the commission about challenges it is being faced with.
Those revelations at the time instilled some level of fear in members of the legislature, especially those seeking reelection.
Half of the membership of the senate is heading for reelection, and with a historically very poor retention rate at the upper house, many senators want to be very sure of the elections being held in time before embarking on their reelection campaign or spending sprees.
A troubled Senate Pro-Tempore, Albert Chie, before then, expressed fear that as Liberians go to the polls in October, many incumbent senators may not return, as history has never been kind to them when seeking re-election in the post-war history of Liberia.
“Most of our seats are up for electoral contestations in the last quarter of this year. Despite years of hard work and constant visits to constituencies, history has unfortunately never been kind to Senators seeking re-elections,” he said. “We hope this class will be an exception and the return rate will be high. I urge all of us to work towards this goal.”
The Grand Kru County Senator is right to be troubled as he is conscious of the notion that there may exist a jinx that hangs over the upper house, as only two each of 30 senators who sought re-elections in 2014 and 2022, returned.
