-Five under Scrutiny for Alleged Role in Protests at Commission
Two Commissioners at the National Elections Commission (NEC) risked dismissal as a total of five of them are currently under investigation due to their suspected involvement in recent disturbances that disrupted the operations of the commission, impeccable sources have revealed.
The headquarters of the NEC was a scene of near chaos when some NEC staffers staged protests demanding additional benefits, leading to the disruption of normal operations at the Commission.
According to one of the sources from the Executive Mansion, the protest, which he said had a negative impact on the functioning of the NEC, was instigated by some of the commissioners.
It is alleged that the commissioners in question provided misleading information to the staff, instigating the protest for their own personal gains, which undermined the credibility of the Electoral Management Body.
Two of the identified commissioners allegedly at the center of the controversy are Co-chairperson P. Teplah Reeves and IT Commissioner Floyd Oxley Sayor, who are believed to have orchestrated the protest, an NEC source told the Daily Observer. Staff members who participated in the demonstration are reportedly personal assistants to these commissioners.
"They were the ones lying and giving instructions to the protesters to demand the dismissal of the NEC Chairperson and others," the source said. "In fact, most of those who protested were personal staffers in the offices of these five commissioners."
The situation has escalated to the point where the President, Joseph Nyuma Boakai, is considering dismissing some of the implicated commissioners if the investigation findings validate the accusations, the sources said.
Additionally, junior level staff members who took part in the protest may also face potential dismissal for their misconduct during the protests, as mentioned by the source. Some aggrieved staffers have blamed the implicated commissioners for misleading them and jeopardizing their own jobs, as well as the reputation of the Commission.
"An investigation is ongoing and it is most likely that the President could dismiss some commissioners if the investigation is proven to be true," the Executive Mansion source indicated. "Also, some of those junior level staffers, who took part in the protest, too, risk dismissal from the Commission for their unbecoming behaviors during the protests."
The staffers were allegedly misled into believing that leftover funds from the 2023 Presidential Election should have been distributed among the Commission's employees, creating further discord within the institution.
"They were misled and misinformed that the money which was left over after the 2023 Presidential Election, should have been divided among staffers of the Commission and that the money was still being held by the NEC Chairperson, Madam Davidetta Browne-Lansanah."
Floyd's Misdeeds and Tainted Past
Commissioner Sayor, one of the five commissioners who allegedly instigated the protest, has also been accused of being involved in clandestine activities in addition to a checkered past that he reportedly has.
Recently, Sayor is reportedly to have received a daily subsistence allowance and fuel to visit Grand Gedeh County and introduce the new team of staffers to local leaders and electoral stakeholders.
However, he failed to attend the meeting in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County, despite being selected for his oversight responsibility in the area as outlined in the New Elections Law of Liberia.
This incident led to embarrassment for the Commission, as only the staffers were able to carry out the introductions.
Sayor is also accused of being a key player in the 2019 contentious by-election in Montserrado County's Electoral District No. 15 between Ms. Telia Urey and Abu Kamara. Chief Election Dispute Hearing Officer Cllr. Muana S. Ville revealed during a hearing after the election that a rerun was ordered at the quarantined polling centers due to Sayor's actions as the Data Center Coordinator.
Ville cited Sayor's failure to adhere to instructions to quarantine ballots from polling places with reported irregularities, which compromised the integrity of the polls. Sayor was accused of showing favoritism to Kamara, who eventually won the by-election.
In a separate incident in 2017, Commissioner Sayor appeared as an expert witness in the case "Liberty Party versus The National Elections Commission."
Despite these controversies, Sayor was appointed as one of the NEC's commissioners by former President George Manneh Weah. During the nomination process, Senator Abraham Darius Dillon questioned Sayor's integrity based on his past conduct, inquiring if he had ever been investigated for electoral malpractices by the NEC.
Internal Conflict Complicates Resolution of NEC Financial Problem
Efforts to resolve the financial matter involving the NEC have been complicated by the staff's actions, as the government has directed the Commission to transfer all funds to the consolidated account.
Despite Chairperson Browne-Lansanah reportedly returning $8 million to the government, internal conflicts within the NEC have hindered progress in addressing these financial issues.
A source told this reporter that the government, through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, has instructed the NEC to transfer all funds to the government's consolidated account.
"The amount in question has officially been reported as revenue for the people of Liberia. For the Commission to access this amount requires going through the budget process," this Finance Ministry official said. "It is said that Chairperson Browne-Lansanah turned over US$8 million back to the government."
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There are also reports that the government would have resolved this matter to some extent, but the behavior of the NEC staff undermined that effort. "The NEC that should be seen as a political bridge between peace and conflict is now degenerating into a conflict institution perpetually," a source at the Commission said.
These situations at the commission development highlights the need for caution in selecting future Board of Commissioners in 2027, with calls for electoral reforms such as adjusting the tenure of commissioners and reducing their number to five, aimed at ensuring the integrity of the electoral process in Liberia.
This is a recommendation that President Boakai is being advised to carefully consider as he contemplates on selecting the next Board of Commissioners. This decision, it is believed, will play a crucial role in shaping the future of democracy in Liberia by ensuring the conduct of fair and credible elections.
According to Liberian law, the President must appoint members of the Board of Commissioners, subject to confirmation by the Liberian Senate. Discussions are underway regarding potential electoral reforms, such as shortening the commissioners' tenure from seven to five years and reducing the number of commissioners to five individuals.
