As announced by the country's electoral body, the National Elections Commission (NEC), on Thursday, June 30, 2022, 83.92 percent of the votes have been counted and tallied with Cllr. Jallah in a commanding lead.
Madam Davidetta Brown Lassanah, Chairperson of NEC, preliminarily announced that the Liberian lawyer has obtained 20,482, which amounts to 40.61 percent of the total valid votes count and is followed by rival candidate, Mr. Galakpai Kortimai of the former ruling Unity Party (UP) with 16,666 or 33.04 percent.
Accordingly, the NEC Chairperson disclosed that Representative Mariamu Fofana, also an Independent candidate, has 5,456, which is equivalent to 10.82 percent of the votes, and is being followed by Mr. Momo T. Cyrus, also an Independent.
Independent candidate and former Senator Sumo Kupee accumulated 1,998 or 3.78 percent and Montserrado County Electoral District #12 Rep. George Samah has 1176, which amounts to 2.33 percent.
The NEC boss assured that the remaining results will be released to the public as tallying continues.
On Tuesday, June 28, 2022, eligible voters went to the polls to decide the faith of the county.
The polls, which generally opened by 8:00am local time, saw a relatively slow turn out across the five electoral districts for perhaps diverse reasons.
However, the voting appetite later grew at the finishing line and saw huge queues at the over four hundred polling centers across the county.
The election as significant as it is also drew the attention of both local and international observers including local and international civil society organizations to monitor the process in a move to ensure that it is free, fair and peaceful.
Touring the respective polling centers, mainly in Voinjama, Kolahun and Foya Districts, it was observed that the process was very peaceful , non-violent and also well organized as voters were seen directed to their respective and specific polling centers by the National Elections Commission(NEC) Polling Staff where to go and vote based on their names in alphabetical order. The NEC Staffs also and ably assisted voters and prioritized special people to include the physically challenged, elderly , pregnant women and baby mothers.
Speaking to some of the voters, mostly women who completed their voting process in Voinjama, Kolahun and Foya Districts, highlighted the need and time for Lofa’s Development with priority being the road construction.
“We need roads and once our roads are built , all other things will follow,” they said.
Moreover, an agriculture coordinator for Kolahun District stressed that once the road from Gbarnga to Voinjama can be paved, it will be the beginning of Lofa’s growth and development process.
“The deplorable roads across Lofa are seriously affecting us and we are hoping that the decision we all will make today will be a turning point for us,” an elderly woman in Voinjama added.
At the same time , a disabled man in Foya called for peace and unity for the county after the entire process and also stated that road development is the pillar to Lofa rising , once again.
Meanwhile, six candidates participated in the much publicized Lof County Senatorial By-Election. They included Momo Cyrus , Mariamu Fofana, Cllr. Joseph Jallah, Galakpai Kortima, Sumo Kupee and Dr. George Semah.