ECOWAS mission lauds elections in Liberia

MONROVIA - The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Election Observation Mission to Liberia on Wednesday lauded Liberians for their peaceful and orderly conduct during the country's presidential and legislative elections held on Tuesday.

Head of the ECOWAS Mission Attahiru Jega told the reporters that the mission noted the orderliness that prevailed throughout the voting process following an assessment of reports submitted to the observers team deployed in all counties.

He commended the timely commencement of polls throughout the country, noting that the high voters turnout to exercise their civic responsibilities was good.

"We saw Liberians in their numbers defying the early morning rain and determined to exercise their civic duty," he said.

"We saw orderliness of voters on queues, disciplined party agents and we also saw professional conduct by electoral officials; and reports from across the country point to a largely peaceful and orderly balloting," he added.

Jega, however, said the ECOWAS team is of the view that there were no major irregularities and incidents of violence arising from the observations.

He commended the Liberian authorities and stakeholders for ensuring a peaceful conduct of the election.

The 150-member ECOWAS observer team was deployed to Liberia's fifteen counties where they monitored the voting.

The final results of Liberia's presidential and legislative elections will be announced on October 26.

James Fromoyan, the chairman of the Liberia National Electoral Commission (NEC) announced that results will be announced from Wednesday as they come in, but the final results will be announced on October 26.

About 1.7 million registered voters, out of an estimated population of 4 million people, went to the polls on Tuesday to elect a president, senators and members of the National House of Representatives.

Sixteen presidential candidates, including incumbent President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf who was elected as Africa's first female president in 2005, are contesting for the presidency.