Members of the Liberian Senate have unanimously voted to confirm Jonathan Weedor as chairman of the National Elections Commission (NEC).
By Obediah Johnson
The Senate took the decision during regular session on Tuesday, June 9, following the submission of a report from its committee on Autonomous Commissions and Agencies.
Weedor was nominated by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai on March 30, this year to replace madam Davidetta Browne Lansanah, who resigned from the position.
He previously served as Co-Chair and acting commissioner of the NEC during the administration of former Presidents Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and George Manneh Weah.
At his confirm hearing on May 28, Weedor vowed to deny political parties which performed poorly in the 2023 presidential and legislative elections from contesting pending elections.
He pointed out that the new elections law of Liberia prohibits political parties, especially presidential candidates that dismally performed past elections, from contesting future elections.
“We will uphold that to the fullest in consistent with the law.”
Trucking
Weedor disclosed that the trucking of electorates from one district or county to another by those vying for elected positions in Liberia, remains an issue of serious concern to the NEC.
He expressed the hope that voter registration process would address the long standing issue of trucking which regularly characterized Liberian elections.
“Trucking is an issue of concern to the commission because we do not believe that individuals should live in Monrovia and decide who is a Representative in Rivercess or Grand Bassa. So, we intend to use the voter registration process to address ourselves to this issue.”
He stressed that the commission would ensure that people “register and vote to where they come from.”
He said the commission would put in place measures to ensure this is attainable.
Not a member of UP
Weedor came under intense pressure from some opposition political parties, including the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) and critics following his appointment by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
Opposition politicians accused him of playing a key role for the elections of President Boakai to the presidency in 2023. He was also accused of being a stalwart of the governing Unity Party (UP).
But Weedor denied holding membership with the UP or any other political parties In Liberia.
When quizzed whether he would conduct credible elections despite his role played during the 2023 elections, Weedor said “I will preside over credible elections.”
A Contract
He clarified that his association with the UP Alliance during elections was based on a “profession contract.”
Weedor recalled that in 2022, he was out of Liberia working on a research project in South Sahara Africa when he received a call from former NEC Chair James Fromayan to form part of a project.
“I am not a member of the Unity Party and I have never been a member. We had gone there by a contract under the Center for Development and Elections Management of which Honorable James Fromoyan was the Director General and I was Deputy for Administration. I am not a member of any political party in Liberia.”
He indicated that he did not campaign for votes for the UP during the elections, but only provided his expertise on the provision of statistics based on his own analysis.
Weedor, however, admitted to being the Chairman of the Liberia National Union (LINU) prior to his appointment to the NEC.
He disclosed that though LINU is still in existence, he tendered in his resignation in 2004, before being appointed at the NEC by the transitional government at the time.
He denied signing documents as the current acting Chair of the NEC.
Weedor was appointed to act in the position by President Boakai following the resignation of NEC Chair Davidetta Brown Lassana.
On threshold
Weedor observed that the National Legislature has the authority by law to set threshold for the conduct of elections, while the NEC has a mandate to apportion electoral boundaries , using the threshold set aside by the legislature.
He maintained that it is unlawful for lawmakers to set aside electoral seats per country.
He vowed to remind lawmakers on the existing law which empowers the NEC to allocate electoral seats in the counties to prevent misunderstanding in the future.
“I will advise the legislature that it is against the law ( to set aside seats per county). It is not the legislature role to apportion seats. It is the legislature role by law to set threshold. I have the courage (to say no to the legislature) for setting seats.”
Diaspora Liberians
Weedor disclosed that the involvement of diaspora Liberians to participate in elections has been an issue under discussion at the commission.
He said several variables, including the total number of Liberians bearing passports outside of the country, remain a cardinal issue on diaspora citizens participation in Liberian elections.
He stated that the commission would study whether or not it has the capacity to address the issue.
“The law says that only Liberian should vote in a Liberian elections. If the tracking mechanisms are there and whether our passports are in the hands of Liberians.”
Weedor stressed that the involvement of diaspora Liberians to participate in the elections would require the collective efforts of all stakeholders, including security the security institutions especially the National Security Agency and the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS).
He pledged to work with the relevant committees at the legislature and other stakeholders to address the situation.
He observed that the proliferation of political parties in Liberia is making it very difficult to attract donor supports to these political institutions.
Currently, there are about 42 political parties in Liberia, while eight others have been proposed.
