'ECOWAS Observer Mission found no major irregularities in Liberia presidential run-off vote'

Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - The ECOWAS Observer Mission to the Liberian presidential run-off vote, held 8 November, 2011, said it found no major irregularities in the voting process, according to a preliminary report issued by the Mission Thursday in Monrovia, the Liberian capital.

The preliminary report, received here by PANA, said the Mission was deployed by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, James Victor Gbeho, in pursuance of the relevant provisions of the ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, following the first round of the presidential election, held in a peaceful, free and transparent atmosphere on 11 October, 2011.

It welcomed the sense of duty exhibited by Liberians during the polls despite "the uncertainties related to the call for a boycott and the regrettable incidents on the eve of the run-off."

PANA reports that two candidates -- incumbent president Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Unity Party (UP) and Mr. Winston A. Tubman of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) headed for the run-off vote after the first round of the elections although the CDC leadership later urged its supporters and Liberians to stay away from the process.

The Mission said it deeply regretted the casualties caused by the violent incident during the demonstration organized by the CDC on the eve of the election.

According to the preliminary report, the Mission revealed that despite the incidents, voting commenced peacefully and on time in all the polling stations without any violent incident.

It said that election materials were adequate and available in almost all polling units although low voter turnout characterized early voting and electoral officials were professional and impartial in the discharge of their duties.
      
Counting and collation were conducted in accordance with the electoral laws in virtually all polling centres although representatives of the CDC were conspicuously absent in all polling centres visited.

Security officials and their patrol teams were effectively present around most polling stations, the report said.

It said that that its observers had been deployed to the 19 magisterial offices to monitor the final tallying of votes.
-0- PANA PR/VAO 9Nov2011