IPNEWS- Harper, Maryland: Former House Speaker, Bhofal Chambers has suffered a major headache ahead of vote recount in the controversial between he and Anthony Williams, of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) in Old Sodoken, Pleebo District Maryland County, following the Harper City Mayor Mechizedeck Toe.
According to a dispatch from Harper, Maryland county, Toe who is one of Chambers’ major campaigners alongside other accomplices, Reed H. Harmon and Hodo Bedell, were arrested and charged after Police preliminary investigation determined both that Reed and Hodo were spotted stealing voter’s cards, and subsequent transmission to Mayor Toe.
Recently Namu Johnson 38 and Anthony Nyema 35 alarmed over the disappearance of their voter’s card to the police attachment in Harper, Maryland county, leading to the retrieval of their voter’s card from the two suspects.
Following thorough police investigation, Mayor of Harper, Mechizedeck Toe, Reed H. Harmon and Hodo Bedell have been charged with Theft/Criminal conspiracy and criminal facilitation, and are now in Police Custody in Harper, awaiting court trial.
Meanwhile, the National Elections Commission will today Friday, January 19, 2024, conduct a re-count in 70 polling places in Electoral District Number Four in Nimba County.
A release from NEC, states that the re-count in Nimba County is based on a mandate from the Supreme Court of Liberia.
The release noted that an 18-member team of technicians from the headquarters of the commission has been deployed to assist the Magistrate to conduct the re-count in Nimba County.
In a related development, the National Elections Commission has announced that it will conduct a re-run in Electoral District #2, with Precinct Code 27020, in Old Sodaken Town Hall, Maryland County on Friday, 25 January 2024.
It noted that the campaign for the re-run in Old Sodaken Town Hall Precinct, in Maryland County begins Wednesday, January 17 and will end Wednesday, January 23, 2024.
NEC is at the same time inviting all stakeholders, including political parties, local and international observers and the media to witness both the recount in Nimba and to observe the re-run in Maryland counties.’
In December 2023, supporters of Pleebo Sodoken District #2 Representative-elect, Anthony Williams were happy after the National Elections Commission (NEC) declared their candidate victorious over former Representative Bhofal Chambers who earlier complained of dissatisfaction during the October 10, 2023, elections.
During the ruling today at the headquarters of the NEC, it was declared that Representative Chambers complain against Williams had to legal basis.
It may be recalled, contrary to reports from Maryland County about several persons being wounded in rival clashes and ballot boxes seized by Country Devil in the county, the authoritative Independent Probe Newspaper, investigative team has established that there was no incident of ballot boxes seizure by Country Devil in the Old Sodoken communities of Pleebo Sodoken District.
Cross-section of Elders and Youths spoken to in Old Sodoken, explained that the community which hosted the polling precinct of the National Elections Commission (NEC) ‘Mission Town’ is a secret traditional place that does not allow Country Devil.
According to an Elder of the town (anonymous) stated that ‘Mensanwloh, Mission town’- (Grebo vernacular), especially the ‘Bea’ Town Hall, does not allow Country Devil entry based on tradition, in that, this town hall is also used by other citizens of the Mensanwloh, Mission Town for Church Services.
“In mesielo, Nation Town, we do not allow Country Devil in this town. Our people are peace-loving people and nobody should be telling you that we put the country devil outside. We put Country Devil outside for what?” The Elder question.
According to a previous report in Old Sodoken, Pleeboc District, the violence erupted following the tally process of ballot papers in Maryland County after the closure of voting on Tuesday, October 10, 2023.
The reports further stated that clashes left several persons wounded in Old Sodoken at a precinct comprising two polling places. Polling staffs and poll watchers from different political parties including NEC officials reportedly fleeing the scene abandoning ballot boxes due to the appearance of a ‘Country Devil.’
Contrary to this report also, several persons including a NEC staff (anonymous over growing life-threats), told IPNEWS that all six ballot boxes at the two precincts are in the possession of the National Election Elections Maryland County Magistrate custody with proper records filed with the National Headquarters of NEC, duly marked and parties and candidate’s representatives signing thereto respectively.
“This report of country Devil invading Old Sodoken is sickening and shows the insecurity of some of our leaders. How can you say ballot boxes we seized by the Country Devil and NEC has all the records with all those parties and candidates representatives signing on this? This wrong for the image of our tradition!”
“Look this is just a mere propaganda to buy time. As you can see, NEC posted all the results here in this very Bea’ Town Hall before leaving. No devil brought any ballot box outside to stuffed. As for the report of town chief coming in the polling center to pre-marked ballot papers is unacceptable. How could NEC allow a town chief to enter the polling station and begin marking ballots for the town people? This is a well-crafted propaganda which is not good for our country.” An anonymous NEC staff narrated to IPNEWS.
Since the October 10 presidential and legislative elections, Sodoken district has garnered attention for the wrong reasons due to allegations of ballot stuffing, including an incident where traditional chiefs allegedly used a country devil to take control of ballot boxes at a particular polling center.
Chambers has represented Maryland District #2 since 2006, but his quest for a fourth six-year term has been brutally resisted by Mr. Williams, a young former student leader.
Following the NEC’s announcement of poll results from the district, Chambers filed a complaint demanding a rerun of the election in some parts of his district, alleging ballot stuffing and interference by traditional leaders. Chambers’ legal team said it has evidence to support their claims.
In light of the evidence Chambers’ legal team claimed to have, IPNEWS investigation points to a harmless error from the records of count as part of NEC’s filling process which cannot overturn the NEC’s pronouncement of Pleebo Sodoken District presumptive winner Anthony F. Williams as winner.
According to sources close to NEC, the copy being circulated by Chambers from polling precinct #27020 is the actual copy of the record of count signed by Chambers’ representative Joseph Huge, indicates log of records/data from various rooms within the election center which accounts for number of ballots used, damaged ballots, etc. However, data from the other polling room was mixed up with data from another room which does not have anything to do with number of votes for a candidate because it does not interfere with any candidate vote (harmless error).
Another issue that may suffered Chambers chances is the inclusion of Gbololu polling precinct in their complaint submission before the supreme court of Liberia.
