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26/09/2023
The Unity Party has petitioned the Supreme Court of Liberia to issue a Writ of Mandamus against the National Elections Commission to compel the electoral body to produce, publish, and distribute the Final Registration.
The legal challenge by the former ruling party is rooted in its belief that timely access to the roll is a key requirement that would ensure the credibility of the October 10 elections.
The electoral body which has, however, not committed to a specific date for the publication of the roll, has insisted that it is working diligently towards making the list available possibl in a secured format and available to all stakeholders as soon as possible.
The Unity Party and other opposition politicians have for the last few weeks contended that the NEC failure to provide access to the roll violates the principles of transparency and fairness that underpin democratic elections.
They argue that without timely access to the crucial document, political parties would find it tough to adequately identify any irregularities or discrepancies in the roll and have it correct.
Meanwhile, NEC is yet to issue a formal response to the Unity Party’s petition since the case was filed on Tuesday September 26, 2023, but it is expected to proceed swiftly through the legal process, given the urgency surrounding the impending national elections.
The Supreme Court is expected to carefully review the merits of the Unity Party’s argument and assess whether a writ of mandamus is warranted in this particular situation.
Story by: Thomas Kojo Roulhac
Photo credit: Google