The African NGOs Observer Mission has termed runoff election in Liberia as a “peaceful and fair election with a relative participation of voters.” These NGOs under the banner, International Mission of African Civil Society for Peace, Democracy and Good Governance (IMACS PDGG) praised the Liberian voters for the peaceful manner in which they conducted themselves before and after the polls.
IMACS PDGG is a conglomeration of several NGOs on the continent that have been working for nearly a decade in the establishment and promotion of human rights, democracy and good governance.
In its report expressing gratitude to Liberian authorities for the successful holding of the runoff, the mission said, “It was invited to observe the election by the Government of Liberia through the NEC.”
The delegation comprises of legal experts, institutional communication, politics, biometrics, electoral security and other fields of electoral governance from several NGOs including Africa Esperance (Benin), ESA (Togo), Africa Democracy & Councils ADC (Côte d’Ivoire), Activism for Electoral Supervision in Africa ASEA (DRC), and All Africa (Côte d’Ivoire), ZOLA ONG (Benin).
The delegation was composed of 25 observers which was coordinated by Oyéoussi Charles Balogoun, President of the NGO Afrique Esperance, Electoral Expert and Bridge Trainer. These observers were deployed in 6 countries, including, Montserrado, Bomi, Margibi, Nimba, Lofa and Sinoe.
IMACS PDGG said, “The methodology used during the mission is that implemented in the “Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation” and the “Code of Conduct for International Election Observers” signed at the United Nations in New York on October 27, 2005 during the United Nations Commemoration, adding that a mission will stay in Liberia for a month or more if necessary to monitor the post-election events, after which a final report will be drafted and disseminated.”
IMACS PDGG further said in its report, “The ballot proceeded calmly with a relative participation of voters; with sufficient transparency in decision-making at the level of the NEC ensuring the confidence of all political actors in the electoral administration. We noticed that many things have changed in the organization of this second round. It means that the National Elections Commission has taken into consideration all the recommendations all the observers had made to it to make the election very transparent and credible to all the political parties in the race.”
IMACS PDGG also said, “The runoff election campaign was brief but was in a festive atmosphere without incidences that would disturb the peace and joy; and we got more opportunity to meet the candidates. All the recommendations of all the national and international observers were very carefully taken into consideration by NEC. This gave to the runoff a very fluid and transparent vote. Regarding the voting procedure, we remarked the quality work carried out by the NEC and the quality contribution of the NEC technical and financial partners, including UNDP, Irish Aid, Canada Republic, Sweden Republic, European Union, USAID through IFES, etc. All of them contributed inexorably to the success of the mission assigned to the NEC.”
According to them, “We established the intellectual quality of all candidates. The gender approach is more respected at the level of political parties in the choice of presidential candidates. We had noticed the spirit of temperance, patience and courtesy of the electorate – all of that contributed to the success of the ballot. The polling precincts closed at 6:00 p.m. precisely, and the counting of the votes casted has started. Each polling place had started the counting of the ballot papers in the presence of all the political parties’ observers. After one hour and half, majority of the polling places have completed the counting of the ballot papers casted and have posted outside the final result.”
Listing positive aspects of the voting, the group said, “An FRR with pictures was posted at all the polling places to help in the identification of voters, and that campaigning was ‘civilized,’ with special mention given to the chairman and commissioners of the NEC for the “proper preparation and management of the process. There were sufficient electoral materials at polling stations; steps were taken to avoid cheating; NEC staffers and partisan observers were easily identifiable, professional and courteous.”
The group also noticed that voters came in “relative numbers”. The women have been very active in voting success at polling stations at the level of the electorate and the non-involvement of public authorities in the management of the process, although it is a predominant actor.
According to the group, there was strong participation of observers from Liberian civil society organizations, the African Union, ECOWAS, European Union, Carter Center, IFES, NDI, EISA, Mano River Union, Women Peace Network, Elections Coordination Committee, and the Women Situation Room Liberia.
At the end of the vote, the mission observed that a tally sheet of the vote was posted at all the polling places.