LIBERIANS are gearing up for a pivotal runoff
election scheduled for Tuesday, as incumbent President George Weah faces off against former vice president Joseph Boakai. This highly anticipated run-off follows a closely contested first round in which neither candidate managed to secure over 50 percent of the vot
e, necessitating a second round of voting.
In the initial round of voting, former soccer star and incumbent President George Weah led with 43.83 percent of the
vote, while his opponent, former vice president Joseph Boakai, secured 43.44 percent. The razor-thin margin between the two frontrunners, coupled with the absence of a prominent third candidate, has set the stage for another fiercely competitive electoral battle.
Maja Bovcon, a senior Africa analyst at the risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft, emphasised the competitive nature of the runoff, stating, ‘The remaining votes from the first round are scattered among 18 candidates that are now out of the race. The final victory will go to whoever manages to garner the support of the largest number of the eliminated candidates.’
This runoff election marks a rematch of the 2017 second round, where Weah, riding a wave of popular support, triumphed over Boakai with 61.54 percent of the vote. He had pledged to address issues such as corruption and improve the living conditions in Liberia, a nation still recovering from two civil wars between 1989 and 2003 and the 2013-16 Ebola epidemic.
However, some voters have grown disillusioned with President Weah’s performance, particularly concerning corruption, high youth unemployment, food inflation, and economic hardships. Weah’s decision to dismiss his chief of staff and two senior officials after the United States imposed sanctions on them for corruption further fuelled discontent. He has attributed some of his administration’s struggles to the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic and the repercussions of the Russia-Ukraine war.
As the runoff election approaches, both candidates have received endorsements from losing candidates in the first round. Weah garnered the backing of Alexander Cumming’s CCP party, although Cummings himself has maintained neutrality. ‘I voted for Cummings in the last elections, but this time, I’m giving my vote to George Weah,’ expressed Martin Sumo, a Cummings supporter.
On the other hand, Boakai has secured endorsements from three of the four best-performing candidates eliminated in the first round. Nevertheless, political analyst Maja Bovcon points out that, collectively, the endorsements Boakai has received may still fall short of the 50 percent threshold required for victory. An additional factor of uncertainty is the nearly 6 percent of votes invalidated in the first round.
Edward Appleton Jr., who secured the third position in the initial round with 2.20 percent of the vote, endorsed Boakai, stating, ‘Liberians are searching for leadership that will deliver results.’
The first round of the election was largely peaceful, although isolated clashes were reported, and two individuals lost their lives due to election-related violence. Maja Bovcon has cautioned that the second round may bring increased tension, with the two candidates vying for votes, raising the potential for division and disputes over results that could lead to unrest in the streets.
Liberians will be closely watching the outcome of this runoff election, with their hopes and aspirations for a better future hinging on the choice they make at th
e ballot box on Tuesday.
