The Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) has been urged to stop declaring an early victory that could spark electoral violence by the Liberian Council of Churches (LCC) and the Women's Situation Room (WSR).
According to LCC and WSR Jefferson Koijee, the CDC Secretary General told partisans that President George Weah has won the October 10 polls, therefore they should get ready for the inauguration.
"The WSR and the LCC say the CDC Secretary General cannot be coming out to make a pronouncement of victory when the final tally of results has not been announced by the National Elections Commission and 99% of the tally clearly states there will be a run-off election."
In a press statement, LCC and WSR added that Koijee assured supporters that preparations for the inauguration scheduled for next January were well underway.
Quoting Koijeee, they said, "Let's get ready for the inauguration. We want to celebrate like never," Koijee told partisans.
"The WSR and the LCC express deep concern about the statement coming from the Secretary General of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), when he told a large gathering of partisans at their national party headquarters on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, to prepare for victory celebrations ahead of the official pronouncement of results from the National Elections Commission (NEC)."
WSR and the LCC see the CDC Secretary General's victory remarks as premature and a source of provoking violence. "We are calling on him and other officials to wait until the final results are announced by the NEC. Even were NEC to announce a run-off, we must be cautious in proclaiming victory before NEC gives the final results."
"We call on the leadership of the CDC to inform their partisans to desist from pre-celebration announcements, as it would contribute to sparking violence. The NEC must similarly take issue with the CDC and condemn the premature victory remarks."
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The Women's Situation Room is part of the Angie Brooks International Centre for Women Empowerment, Leadership Development, Peace, and Security (ABIC). The group and its partners have been monitoring the October 10 polls to ensure that they are peaceful in accordance with the Farmington River Peace Accord.
It can be recalled that on October 16, 2023, WSR and the LCC issued a joint statement calling on the citizens of Liberia to remain calm and non-violent as we await the final announcement from the National Elections Commission (NEC) of the election results.
"We urged the exuberant Unity Party that was at the forefront of calling for a victory celebration before NEC announces the final results to desist from said pronouncement, as it would be provocative, untimely, and contrary to their signatory to the Farmington River Declaration. We ask all political parties to not yield to provocative statements and remain calm and non-violent."
"As we close, we want to take the opportunity to inform the NEC that they need to investigate and respond to the growing allegations of many issues that compromise the integrity of the data that is being put out in the public - real or imagined. After the acclamation of peaceful elections, we do not want to have aspersion cast on us."
Meanwhile, WSR and the LCC urge political parties and candidates dissatisfied with the ongoing results announced by the NEC to pursue legal mechanisms.
"If after you have had a hearing with the magistrate, you do not agree with the magistrate's decision, you can then file an appeal with the Board of NEC Commissioners to hear you. Then, if you disagree with the Board of Commissioners, you can take your case to our Supreme Court. THIS IS OUR LAW."
