Crucial Senatorial By-Election in Liberians Today

Crucial Senatorial By-Election in Liberians Today

The long-awaited Montserrado County Senatorial by-election takes place today, November 10, 2009 in Liberia.

Already, the National Elections Commission (NEC) has qualified ten candidates for the process, who have been vigorously campaigning to fill the vacant seat in the Senate created as a result of the death of the late Hannah Brent, formerly of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC).

Those who have been qualified for the process by the Commission are Mrs. Geraldine Doe-Sheriff of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), Grace Tee McGill Kpaan, Independent; Wilson Kargeor Tarpeh of Alliance for Peace and Democracy (APD); Daniel Johnson, Independent, Alhaji G.V. Kromah, Independent and Clemenceau Urey of the ruling Unity Party (UP).

Others are Dairus Dillon of Liberty Party (LP); Nathaniel Semoda Toe Jr. Independent; Jasper S. Fallah Ndarborlor of Free Democratic Party (FDP); and Jacqueline Maudlyne Capehart, an Independent candidate. So far, the ballot papers for the election are in the country while the Commission has completed the process of replacing voters' lost cards as a way of giving many persons the opportunity to participate in the process. Over 400,000 persons are expected to participate in the process. The person to be elected will stay in the Senate until the next General and Presidential Elections slated for October 2011.

The President of the Republic of Liberia, Her Excellency, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, has therefore by Proclamation declared Tuesday, November 10, 2009 as "Montserrado County Senatorial By-Election Day" and is to be observed throughout Montserrado County as a holiday.

According to a Foreign Ministry release, President Johnson Sirleaf calls upon every citizen and foreign resident within Montserrado County, to respect, specifically, this by-election, and directs that all government offices, business houses, and market places be closed on the day of the By-election from Six O'clock ante Meridian to Six O'clock post meridian..

The National Elections Commission (NEC) has requested government, based on numerous requests from the general public to declare the November 10, 2009 a holiday for Montserrado County for the purpose of mass participation in the election.

The proclamation further that the government is desirous of ensuring the unhindered movement of all electorates, which include workers, students, marketers, and granting voters the opportunity to exercise their political franchise throughout the county on the day of the By-election.

The government being cognizant of the importance of the democratic process which enable citizens to exercise their political franchise as a free people and considering the fact that Montserrado County hosts the seat of the national government of Liberia and has over 400,000 voting population, President Johnson Sirleaf , by virtue of the authority in her vested, do hereby declare, announce and proclaim, Tuesday, November 10, 2009 as Montserrado County Senatorial By-election day, to be observed throughout as Holiday.