The National Elections Commission (NEC) has officially announced a runoff election after non of 20 candidates secure an outright victory in the first round of voting.
The announcement comes as the West African nation strives to elect its next president amidst a fiercely contested and closely watched presidential election.
In the initial round of voting, held on October 10,2023 a crowded field of candidates vied for the presidency, hoping to succeed the incumbent George Manneh Weah.
However, no single candidate managed to secure the majority needed to claim victory, necessitating a runoff election.
A candidate must be an outright winner in a presidential election if he or she accrue at least 50% plus one vote in total votes cast.
The two leading candidates from the first round are incumbent President George Manneh Weah of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) and Ex-vice president Joseph N. Boakai of the Unity Party.
According to preliminary results from the NEC, 43.83% of the vote went to George Manneh Weah while 43.44% was secured by Joseph Boakai.
About 1.9million people voted during the October 10 poll.
With none of them achieving the required 50% plus one vote threshold, the country now braces for a runoff election.
Electoral observers from both local and international organizations have praised the transparency and overall peaceful conduct of the first round of voting dispute minor incidents at polling centers.
The runoff election is scheduled for November 14, 2023 and it is expected to be closely monitored by international observers to ensure the process remains free and fair.
Liberians are hopeful that the upcoming runoff election will result in a peaceful and democratic transition of power, consolidating the nation’s progress since its civil war ended in 2003.
Economic growth
Political stability and economic growth are paramount issues for the country, and the next leader faces significant challenges in addressing these concerns.
As the runoff election approaches, the leading candidates are intensifing their campaigns and appeals to voters in their efforts to secure the presidency.
Liberia is battling illicit drug and racketeering by public officials which has largely been blamed on the Weah’s administration failure to act.
The eyes of the international community will remain on Liberia as the country navigates this critical juncture in its democratic journey.
