Senetor Sharafadeen Alli the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Act, on Tuesday, has hailed the patriotism of Liberian citizens, including party agents, in their recently concluded presidential election , as he condemned the electoral body and the judiciary of the Federal Republic of Nigeria over not allowing the citizens wish to prevail.
Senetor Alli who was Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, expressed admiration for Liberians exiting the polling stations with confidence that the agents would oversee the counting process stating that such doesn’t work in Nigeria.
According to Alli, he said “I must be honest with you; they (Liberians) are patriotic. In a situation where, after voting, people will just go and you then begin to wonder, asking, ‘Where are you going?’ ‘I am going to my house.’ ‘Are you not going to wait and see the counting?’ ‘My agent is there.’ ‘Are you sure he is not going to compromise?’ Then he says, ‘No problem; I have confidence in him.'”
Contrasting the Liberian election with Nigerian polls, Senator Alli raised concerns about the reliability of agents.
He attributed this to cultural factors, emphasising the need for cultural changes.
The senator said, “But here in Nigeria if you don’t look well, your agent is a problem. It’s our culture, and these are some of the things we have to consider. Our culture towards elections, our Electoral Act, and talking to the people. We need to do a lot of letting the government see that we need a different orientation.”
Joseph Boakai was on Monday declared the winner of Liberia’s presidential election, beating incumbent George Weah, the National Electoral Commission (NEC) said after completing the ballot count.
Weah had already conceded defeat on Friday evening, based on the results of more than 99.98 percent of the polling stations.
Boakai won with 50.64 percent of the vote, against 49.36 percent of the vote for former international football star Weah, Davidetta Browne Lansanah, president of the commission, told reporters.
The 78-year-old vice president was elected with only a 20,567-vote margin.