Monrovia – With nearly six years served as Chairperson of the National Elections Commission, Madam Davidetta Browne-Lansanah has announced she will step down from the position, leaving office with about one year remaining in her seven-year tenure.
By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway
Madam Browne-Lansanah was appointed Chairperson of the Elections Commission by former President George Manneh Weah on April 10, 2020, to lead Liberia’s electoral body. Her sudden decision to resign came as a surprise to many, as her tenure was expected to run until 2027.
The announcement was made Thursday, March following a tour of ongoing renovation works at the Commission’s headquarters in Monrovia.
Speaking during the event, Browne-Lansanah disclosed that her resignation will take effect on March 15, 2026.
“So, we are grateful to all of you and we say thank you for coming. Permit me to use this platform to say to you that as of the 15th of March 2026, I am stepping down as Chairperson of the National Elections Commission. I have conveyed this to the President’s Office and I await to hear from him,” she said.
She added: “It’s time to move on and allow another person who may be appointed the opportunity to serve the Commission. So I’m going happy. Of course, on behalf of the Board of Commissioners and staff of the National Elections Commission, we want to say thank you and have a pleasant time.”
During her remarks, the outgoing NEC Chair also reflected on what she described as a major transformation of the Commission’s facilities, highlighting the ongoing renovation as the first major upgrade of the institution’s infrastructure in many years.
According to her, the renovation project was made possible through a government investment totaling US$1,135,628.83, with additional logistical support from several government ministries.
Beyond local support, Browne-Lansanah expressed appreciation to international partners, including the European Union and the United Nations, for their sustained support to the Commission. She noted that the improvements have positioned the institution for stronger leadership going forward.
“When you reach this point, NEC is now really visible and we hear comments coming from passersby saying that we have actually transformed this place,” she said. “This is the first massive renovation for the NEC. In previous arrangements, the UNDP and other partners supported renovations here at NEC headquarters and at our 19 magisterial offices.”
Representatives of several international partners, including the One UN, also praised the Commission for what they described as a significant infrastructural transformation at the electoral body.
Meanwhile, Liberia’s Minister of Justice, Cllr. Natu Oswald Tweh, Sr., speaking on behalf of the government, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to supporting the Commission to ensure it remains vibrant and effective.
