Liberia’s president to face main rival in runoff

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) – Liberia’s presidential election will head to a second round in which incumbent George Weah will face his main rival Joseph Boakai, the country’s electoral commission said Tuesday after announcing the final results of Oct. 10 polls.

According to the National Elections Commission, none of the candidates obtained the 50% plus one vote needed to win the first round.

Weah garnered 43.83% of the vote while Boakai, of the opposition Unity Party, won 43.44%, the commission announced.

The other 18 candidates received no more than 3% of the vote.

The runoff will take place on Nov. 14, the head of the electoral commission, Davidetta Browne, said after announcing the results.

The two candidates contested in the second round of voting in the 2017 election in which Boakai had trailed Weah again in the first round of voting.

Weah won 60% of the vote in the 2017 second round vote.

The former football legend, who has been in office since January 2018, is seeking reelection for another six-year term on a promise to deliver more prosperity to Liberia.

Boakai served as vice president under former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. He campaigned on the promise of improving social services including healthcare, education and social welfare.

In a statement last week, Boakai rallied opposition political parties to support him “to redeem the nation from a failed administration led by President Weah.”

“My fellow Liberians, our country needs to be rescued, and then we can embark on getting it fixed. Our country needs to be swept. Our country needs to be redeemed,” he said.

He promised to form a government of inclusion that truly reflects the political, social and religious diversity of the citizens.

Liberia went to the polls on Oct. 10 with 2.4 million registered voters.