The New Dawn Liberia | Truly Independent

The National Elections Commission (NEC) has finally qualified the Congress for Democratic Change and independent aspirant Edwin Zodua to participate in the July 3, 2021 representative by-election in Montserrado County Electoral District #11.

Acting NEC Chair Cllr. Elizabeth J. Nelson said following a review of the Notice of Exception filed by its legal counsel to the ruling of the NEC Hearing Officer in the case “Nomination Complaint” filed by the CDC aspirant Jerror Emmanuel Tarwo and independent aspirant Edwin Zodua, the Board of Commissioners did not obtain a quorum on the matter hence, the earlier ruling remains in full force and effect, meaning the both parties are qualified to participate in the pending by-election.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the inclusion of the CDC and Independent Candidate Edwin Zodua on the list of qualified candidates brings to 11 the number of persons qualified to contest the by-election. There are now four political parties and seven independent candidates that have qualified to contest the by-election”, Cllr. Nelson told press conference Wednesday.

However, campaign for the by-election begun since June 6 and will end on July 1, 2012. “I again want to take this time to caution the candidate and their supporters to proceed with the conduct of their campaign activities in a peaceful manner with mutual respect for each other”, the acting NEC boss added.

Both the CDC and the NEC had engaged in words of war about the former’s alleged failure to meet the deadline for Candidate Nomination, but the main opposition party threatened to protest and disrupt the polls if it were disallowed from the process.

The by-election in Montserrado County District #11 is intended to fill the vacancy created by the death Representative Moses Saah Tandapolie, while attending a legislative retreat in Gbarnga, Bong County early this year.

Meanwhile, the NEC has announced that consistent with the electoral laws of Liberia, and timeline for the by-election, ballot papers and forms are expected in the country on June 24, 2012, while the briefing of agents of political parties and independent candidates is scheduled for June 30, 2012.