IPNEWS-Monrovia – On February 16, 2022 the House of Senate notified the National Elections Commission (NEC) of a vacant seat in the Senate intended for Lofa County. The seat was won by former Defense Minister Brownie Samukai in the 2020 Midterm Senatorial election.
While Samukai was awaiting his certification series of lawsuits were filed against him, ranging from his misapplication of pension funds intended for soldiers of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), prohibition to deny him taking the seat having been convicted of misapplication, etc.
After long legal battle, Samukai and his co-defendants were sentenced to two years in prison with a mandate to repay the money misappropriated. But before Samukai and his co-defendants could go the jail, President George Weah suspended Samukai’s sentence and instructed him to liaise with the Ministry of Justice for a stipulation to pay back the money.
However, the presidential clemency did not restore Samukai’s rights to be certificated but only his two-year jail sentence was suspended.
Predicated upon Samukai’s rights not being restored fully, the House of Senate informed NEC of a vacancy despite Samukai still being the rightful winner of the Lofa County Seat.
Senator Conmany Wesseh and other Senators differed with Senate Pro Temp Albert Chie for declaring the Lofa County Senatorial Seat Vacant. Senate Wesseh said the Senate lacks legal backing to declare the seat vacant since the seat has already been won by Brownie Samukai. He said in his opinion it is only the court that can pass judgement on the matter since Samukai was convicted by a court.
While the dust is yet to settle, the National Elections Commission (NEC) on Friday submitted a budget of US$1,934,720.80 (one million, nine hundred thirty-four thousand, seven hundred twenty dollars and 80 cents) to the National Legislature for the conduct of the Lofa County senatorial by-election.
This follows the 16 February 2022 notification to the NEC of the existence of a vacancy in the Liberian Senate for a seat for Lofa County.
The Commission has scheduled the by-election for May 10, 2022.
The Commission is acting upon the notification of a vacancy in the Senate pursuant to Article 37 which states “that in the event of a vacancy in the Legislature, caused by death, resignation, and expulsion or otherwise, the presiding officer shall within 30 days notify the National Elections Commission thereof.
“The National Elections Commission shall not later than 90 days thereafter cause a by election to be held; provided that where such vacancy occurs within 90 days prior to the holding of general elections, the filling of the vacancy shall await the holding of such general elections”.
Meanwhile, a Steering Committee for the Lofa senatorial by-election has been setup to coordinate activities of the by-election.
Commissioner Ernestine Morgan Awar will head the Lofa senatorial by-election steering committee.
The former Minister of Defense had faced hurdle in taking his seat as Lofa County’s senator-elect after the Supreme Court halted his certification by the National Election Commission (NEC).
The nation’s highest court’s decision against Samukai, of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP), was trigged by a Writ of Prohibition filed March 2, 2021, by O’Neil Paasewe, chair of the Movement for Progressive Change.
Paasewe asked the court to halt the certification of Samukai because he has been convicted by the Supreme Court for the crime of money laundering. Associate Justice Joseph N. Nagbe, who issued the writ, has planned a conference in the justice chambers for 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 9, 2021, to discuss the case.
Samukai received the most votes in the December 8, 2020 special senatorial election. Of the 11 candidates who vied for the Lofa County senatorial seat, Samukai received 20, 431 votes, followed by independent candidate Cllr. Joseph Jallah with 13,968 votes. Samukai has experienced mixed rulings with the Supreme Court since he won the senatorial seat in Lofa.
