By: Jackie L.Dennis
Justice in Chamber, Jamesetta Wolokolie, late Friday evening September 29, 2023, issued a writ of Mandamus against the National Elections Commission (NEC)
Executive Chairman, Madam Davidetta Browne Lansanah, and all Commissioners and Officers.
The NEC executive Chairman Davidetta Browne Lansanah and all Commissioners and officers are expected to appear on Saturday, September 30, 2023, at the hour of
9:00 a.m. to show cause why the petitioner’s Unity Party petition as prayed for should not be granted.
The decision of Associate Justice Wolokolie was based on the outcome of the conferences of NEC and the Unity Party held Friday, September 29, 2023, in the Chamber at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia.
According to the writ, Associate Wolokolie further commanded the Marshal Amos B. Kesseh Dickson. Sr or his deputy to instruct the NEC (Respondent) to file its returns to the Writ in the Office of the Clerk of the Supreme Court on or before the said
Saturday, September 30, 2023.
The writ said “You are commanded to inform the respondent to make available on or before Saturday, September 30. 2023. at the hour of 4:00 p.m. the Final Registration Roll (FRR) (for each
magisterial area) available at the magisterial office for public inspection during normal business
hours, and electronic copies to stakeholders in a secured form” The writ noted.
On Tuesday of this week the Unity Party. represented by its standard bearer
and political leader, Joseph Nyumah Boakai filed a writ of mandamus on Tuesday, September 26,23, against the National Election Commission (NEC) Chairmen Davidetta Brown Lansanah for failure to publish the Final Registration Roll.
The Unity Party in their petitioner prays for the issuance of the mandatory writ of mandamus compelling NEC (Respondent) to perform its specified legal duties to have the Final Registration Roll of certified voters by location published and distributed to Political Parties and Independent Candidates.
Immediately after the Conference one of the Lawyer representing the Unity Party Cllr. Busheben Keita told Judicial Reporters, that the impression that the LPP and Up is that the NEC had no plan at all to release the Final Registration Roll to the Political Party.
He said after Justice Wolokolie questioned and talked to NEC about the FRR, they maintained that by the evening they would give the Registration Roll for fourteen counties (14), but they can not give the FFR for Montserrado County because it will not be complete until sometime next week.
He said it’s completely unacceptable especially when NEC did various consultations and NEC said they have had these documents with them since June.
While the Lawyer representing NEC said he could not speak to the issues.
