The Six Judicial Circuit Civil Law Court of Montserrado County has quashed with immediate effect the preliminary injunction filed against the Press Union of Liberia’s Elections.
Omecee Johnson, Sekou Sheriff, Sebo Williams and Samuel Hesay sponsored by PUL’s Vice President, Octavin T. Williams prohibited the elections on un-meritorious grounds, a release from the PUL states.
In its response to the Court, the PUL averred that petition for the preliminary injunction was done in bad faith with the intent to hold the Union hostage, and plunge it into a constitutional crisis but supporters of Mr. Octavin Williams argued that the PUL’s voter roll was fraudulent with names of non-journalists.
Petitioners, the Union said participated in all activities leading to the elections for new corps of officers of the Press Union of Liberia without rebuffing the preparation of the polls and raising their grievances through the internal legal remedial processes of the Union.
“To suggest that the Constitution of the PUL was violated without specific detail to show which portion of article 10 & 11 of the PUL’s Constitution was ignored amounts to legal nudity,” the release added.
In another response, the Union asserted that Talk Show Host, Sekou Sheriff has no legal capacity to enjoin the PUL Electoral process, because he is an associate member, none due paying, and is ineligible to vote in the pending elections.
According to the release, Sheriff remains expelled and is a center of criminal probe by the Ministry of Justice.
Furthermore, PUL maintained that Mr. Sheriff waved his right to due process after refusing to honor an invitation of the National Media Council of the Press Union of Liberia to answer to complaint of unethical conduct.
Meanwhile, the Election’s Committee of Press Union of Liberia has declared the resumption of campaign activities as of Wednesday, November 13, 2019 and it ends at 12am on Saturday, November 16, 2019.
“Polling has been scheduled to be held on Saturday, November 16, 2019 at the PUL’s Headquarters on Clay Street from 9am to 4pm,” the release concluded.
Team Octavin reacts
In reaction to the lifting of court’s order on the PUL elections, supporters of presidential candidate Octavin Williams say the court mandate was misinterpreted by the PUL election Commission head Mr. Jallawah Tonpo who announced new elections date on Saturday November 16, 2019.
According to #TeamOctavin#, the court order does not in on way give the PUL electoral commission the right to set new date for the election.
