George Weah takes early lead in Liberia election

George Weah, football icon, is in an early lead, according to the official provisional results of Tuesday’s presidential elections in Liberia.

The results were released by Jerome Korkoya, chairman of the National Elections Commission (NEC), at the commission’s headquarters in Monrovia.

The results of 1,232 polling units or 22.9 percent of the total 5,390 polling units across the country were announced, NAN reports.

Weah of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) led other candidates in 11 out of the 15 counties that constitute Liberia in the results released so far.

He won in Bomi county with 3,763 votes, while vice president Joseph Boakai got 2807 votes. In Bong, Weah got 28,233 votes, while Boakai got 24,367.

Weah also beat Boakai in Grand Bassa with 6950 votes. Boakai got 1786.

The county was won by Charles Walker Brumskine, the opposition leader and candidate of Liberty Party with 10,350 votes. He also won Rivercess county with 2970 votes. Weah came second here with 2873, while Boakai got 1089.

At Grand Cape Mount, Weah beat rival Boakai, with 2,663 votes to 2,152. Grand Gedeh also cast their lot with the ex-footballer, giving him 4462 votes to Boakai’s 704. A similar result emerged in Grand Kru, where Weah polled 3983 to Boakai’s 742 votes.

In Gbarpolu, Weah won 3075 votes, narrowly beating Boakai, who got 2768.

Boakai of the ruling Unity Party (UP) led in Lofa County, where he got a massive endorsement, winning 27,614 votes to Weah’s 2036 votes.

Former warlord and presidential torchbearer of the National Union for Democratic Progress, Prince Yormie Johnson, defeated others Nimba county. He polled 13786 votes. Weah won 1848 votes here and Boakai came out stronger here, with 4744 votes.

Weah won his highest vote of 38285 votes in Montserrado. His opponent, Boakai got 20,211 votes. Weah also led Boakai in Margibi with 13,270, Maryland, 3892, Rivercess 2873 and Sinoe 9391

While results of the remaining 4,158 polling units are being awaited, the NEC boss was quick to note that no winner has been declared yet.

“It is important to point out that results published by the National Elections Commission are the only official results,” he said.

“The Commission asks all other organisations to refrain from announcing anything other than the official results released.

“Candidates and political parties should also be patient and await the official results and not rush to premature conclusions.

“The Commission is committed to the timely release of the results, but this cannot be done at the expense of accuracy.”

He advised the media against reporting results that have not been verified by the commission.

“This can lead to problems and expectations that cannot be met. It is important for all to be responsible at this point. This includes the media,” he said.

“The National Elections Commission also calls on any person or party that has a complaint to use the established legal channels.

“Our complaints process will investigate thoroughly any complaints and we ask aggrieved parties to submit evidence to support their claims.

“We also call on all parties to be responsible in any allegations they make.”