The opposition Alternative National Congress (ANC) said, it has taken note of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s nomination of Jonathan K. Weedor as chairperson of the National Elections Commission (NEC).
“While we acknowledge Mr. Weedor’s years of service within the NEC, we greet this nomination with serious caution and deep concern regarding his independence, neutrality, and credibility to preside over Liberia’s electoral body,” the Party said in a statement released on Thursday, April 2, in Monrovia.
The NEC, ANC said, occupies one of the most sensitive and consequential positions within the country’s democratic architecture.
“The legitimacy of governments, the credibility of elections, and ultimately the stability of our Republic depends heavily on public confidence that the NEC operates above politics; above partisan loyalty, and above ethnic considerations.”
The ANC statement was signed by its national chairman, Counselor Lafayette E.O. Gould.
“It is therefore troubling that Mr. Weedor’s public conduct during the 2023 general and presidential elections raises legitimate questions about his impartiality.”
Meanwhile, the ANC recalls with concern the widely circulated video in which Mr. Weedor appeared celebrating and prematurely announcing a first-round electoral victory for the Unity Party while serving as one of its strategists in their war room; an assertion that was later contradicted by the official results announced by the NEC itself.
“Such actions from a man who is now expected to serve as the chairperson of the NEC could create a dangerous perception of political alignment and compromise the standard of neutrality required of those entrusted with managing the democratic will of the Liberian people.”
Equally concerning, the ANC said, “is the broader political context surrounding this nomination.”
“Mr. Weedor’s open support for the Unity Party during the 2023 electoral process, coupled with his very close relationship with Pres. Boakai, risks undermining public trust and confidence in the independence of the Commission.
Liberia’s fragile democracy cannot afford an electoral body whose leadership is perceived; rightly or wrongly, as politically compromised.”
According to the ANC, the 1986 Constitution and the NEC Law demand the highest level of independence, integrity, and neutrality from those appointed to the Board of Commissioners of the NEC, especially the chairperson.
“Any perception of bias or political allegiance at that level threatens to cast doubt over future elections, and could potentially push our country toward unnecessary electoral tensions or crisis.
The ANC firmly believes that while the President possesses the constitutional authority to nominate members of the NEC Board of Commissioners, that authority must be exercised with utmost sensitivity to the principles of independence, neutrality, and national confidence in the electoral process.
The integrity of our elections must never be sacrificed for political convenience.
At this critical moment in our democracy, the ANC calls on the Senate to rise to its constitutional responsibility, and conduct a thorough, fearless and transparent scrutiny of this nomination.
The Senate must ensure that our electoral body remains an institution that commands the trust of all political actors and the Liberian people.
Furthermore, the ANC calls on all opposition political parties, civil society organizations, democracy advocates, and concerned citizens to join this call for vigilance.
The independence of the NEC is not a partisan issue; it is a national democratic imperative.
Protecting the credibility of our electoral system today is the surest guarantee of political stability tomorrow.
Liberia’s democracy was built through sacrifice, struggle, and the determination of our people to never again allow political manipulation to undermine their voice.
The integrity of the National Elections Commission must therefore remain sacred, protected, and beyond reproach.
The ANC remains committed to defending the democratic principles that ensure free, fair, and credible elections,” the statement concluded.
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