To enrich the credibility of the upcoming Presidential and Legislative Elections, scheduled to take place on October 10, 2023 , the Press Union of Liberia, (PUL) is calling on the Supreme Court to speedily hear a Motion to Rescind Justice Joseph Nagbe's Ruling which annulled a Stay Order on the Inauguration of elected Leaders of the Union.
The Motion to Rescind grew out of a case: Julius K. Kanubah vs Press Union of Liberia Leadership, Membership, Congress & Election Committees. Team Julius had accused the Press Union of Liberia Leadership, Membership, Congress & Election Committees of voters' roll piling. An accusation the Leadership of the PUL has since described as preposterous and an intentional ploy to kill the Union.
Team Julius in the lead to PUL's Election embarked on a campaign to ruin the reputation of the Union, through outlandish accusations which it could not substantiate.
It has accused the PUL's Membership Committee of placing 27 individuals on the voters' roll after the accreditation period. When the Team showed up for a hearing before the Membership, Congress & Election Committees, it was discovered that most of the individuals on the list were its supporters. For the good of the process, the list was added to the voters' roll.
Team Julius asked the Committees for two days to research and return with a detail complaint, the days requested were granted by the committees. Set to plunge the Union into deep confusion, Team Julius refused to honor all invitation to clean up the voters roll.
The first two days of Congress elapsed with an injunction being placed on the Election of the Press Union of Liberia by Julius K. Kanubah and his supporters. The injunction was vacated by the 9thJudicial Circuit Court, in Gbarnga City Bong County.
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The election proceeded as scheduled. Of the 1,211 registered voters, 350 votes were cast in the Election of November 2022, and 15 of those votes went to Julius K. Kanubah. Justice in Chamber Yousuf Kaba declined to grant a prohibition they had prayed for before the Supreme Court. It must be noted that the low turnout can also be attributed to the misinformation that was widely disseminated by Team Julius that the election was cancelled only to enable them achieve their ulterior motives.
Team Julius went for a Stay Order which was granted in the absence of the contesting party by the 9th Judicial Circuit Court after they had withdrawn their initial Writ of Declaratory Judgement and made amendments.
The PUL asserted that it is important that the Motion to Rescind be expeditiously treated, because it falls within the realm of the 2023 Elections.
An induction of a duly elected Leadership of the Press Union of Liberia will work on the protection of journalists ahead, during and in the immediate aftermath of the general election, the Union indicated. The PUL said such works usually adds much needed value to the outcome of the election as free, fair, transparent and verifiable.
