Monrovia, Liberia: The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), observer Mission to the Presidential and Legislative elections in Liberia has threatened to take legal action against Unity Party (UP) national Campaign spokesperson, Mohammed Ali for “reckless” political statement.
The UP national campaign spokesperson on 10 November 2023, posted on his Facebook handle stating, “ECOWAS Observer Mission had been influenced by USD 150,000 to declare a purportedly rigged election as transparent, free and fair”.
The regional bloc noted the statement as “reckless” and challenged Mr. Ali to prove the accusation with hard facts or publicly retract it.
“The ECOWAS Observer Mission challenges Mo Ali to prove this scurrilous accusation or publicly withdraw it immediately and tender an unqualified apology. Failing this, the ECOWAS Observer Mission and the ECOWAS Commission reserve the right to employ all necessary measures to hold him personally accountable for his utterance”, a press statement quotes Attahiru Jega, head of ECOWAS election observation mission to Liberia.
It further calls on the leadership of the Unity Party to denounce the statement made by its national campaign spokesperson that seeks to denigrate the image of noble institution, ECOWAS.
According to the release issued Friday, November 11, 2023, ECOWAS takes strong exception to this scurrilous statement, which puts at risk the safety and physical integrity of the ECOWAS observers from across West Africa who have come to accompany the good people of Liberia in this pivotal election.
“The mission says, it counts on the people of Liberia to disregard such falsehoods perpetrated by individuals who may seek to derail the positive democratic gains made by Liberians. The ECOWAS Observer Mission wishes to assure the good people of Liberia of its complete neutrality towards the contestants ni the November 14 Presidential run-off poll. The Mission further reaffirms its total commitment to a credible, inclusive, and peaceful electoral process in Liberia, in accordance with its mandate under Articles 12 and 13 of the ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.
