April 22 Declared ‘By-election Day’ In Nimba

President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has by proclamation, declared Tuesday, April 22, 2025, as National Holiday to be observed only in Nimba County. On that day, the county will be holding the by-election, which followed the death of the county’s ranking senator Prince Y. Johnson, late last year.

The proclamation, according to a Foreign Ministry release, calls on all citizens and foreign residents residing in Nimba County, to respect, specifically, this National Holiday, as such, and directs government offices, business houses, private and public institutions of learning and market places in the affected locations to be closed on that day from six o’ clock ante meridian to six o’ clock post meridian.

 The proclamation emphasizes that the government is desirous of ensuring the unhindered movement of all eligible voters, granting unto them the opportunity to exercise their political franchise in the county in a peaceful manner on the day of election.

The proclamation states that one vacancy has been created in the legislature precisely in the senate as a result of the death of Senator Prince Y. Johnson, Senior Senator, Nimba County.

Article 37 of the Constitution of the Republic of Liberia provides that: In the event of a vacancy in the Legislature caused by death, resignation, expulsion or otherwise, the presiding officer shall within 30 days notify the elections commission thereof, and the elections commission shall not later than 90 days thereafter, cause a by-election to be held, provided that where such vacancy occurs within 90 days prior to the holding of general elections, the filling of the vacancy shall await the holding of such general elections.

In compliance with the said Article 37 of the Constitution, the presiding officer of the 55th Legislature on January 30, 2025, through the secretary of the senate, informed the National Elections Commission of a vacancy in the senate, affecting Nimba County.

Furthermore, the Presidential proclamation also said that this by-election is in compliance with Article 45 of the Constitution; and Article 45 provides that the senate shall composed of Senators elected for a term of nine years by the registered voters in each of the counties, but a senator elected in a by election to fill a vacancy created by death, resignation, expulsion or otherwise, shall be so elected to serve only the remainder of the unexpired term of office.

Each county shall elect two senators and each senator shall have one vote in the senate. Senators shall be eligible for re-election.

The proclamation furthers that the National Elections Commission has scheduled the holding of the by-election for a senator in Nimba County on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.