ECOWAS Commends Liberians For Participating In Presidential Run-off

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has commended Liberians for turning out to cast their votes in the 8 November 2011 presidential run-off.

A statement from the ECOWAS Commission on Friday in Abuja quoted Amb. James Gbeho, President of the commission, as making the commendation while monitoring the exercise in some polling centres in Monrovia.

“It is obvious that people turned out to vote despite the disruption on the eve of balloting.

“Obviously not as high as in the first round of 11 October, but that was also partly because the first round had involved 16 presidential contenders and candidates for Senatorial and National House of Representatives seats.”

The statement added that Gbeho also condemned the violence that occurred at the headquarters of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) on Monday, during which one person died and several others were injured.

It described the incident as “regrettable and disappointing,” noting that election boycott had never provided a viable solution to political disagreement.

“At the end of the day, Liberians have spoken with their ballots and we will hear their voice in the result of the polls.”

It stated that regaining the past glory of Liberia could only be achieved ‘’through peaceful co-existence, national unity and reconstruction.”

It restated ECOWAS’ commitment to work with all stakeholders to raise the level of political education and advocacy in the region.

“There is life after losing an election and in every election, there must be a winner and a loser; we have to build and consolidate democracy in our region’’.

The statement also quoted Prof Attahiru Jega, head of the ECOWAS 200-member Election Observation Mission, as saying “No doubt, the disruption on Monday might have created some apprehension.

‘’But as the day went by, more people turned out to vote and we saw a determination and commitment of Liberian voters to exercise their constitutional right.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the CDC led by Mr Winston Tubman, had called on its party supporters to boycott the exercise, citing fraud in the electoral process.