Electoral Districts Demarcation Causes Pain

The Informer (Monrovia)

Marcus S. Zoleh

12 May 2011

Report from Nimba says that some citizens are seriously disgusted over the new electoral district delineation process that being carried out by the National Election Commission (NEC).

NEC on Monday began consultations with citizens mainly chiefs, elders and youths as a mean of getting their input on the new electoral district delineation exercise.

According to report, some of the people are not happy with NEC over the delineation process.

The aggrieved are the ones whose clans were cut off from their original electoral districts and added to another one.

The report say for example, Yarmehn, a Chiefdom in Electoral District #1 of Nimba County, which Honorable Francis Karway represents, was cut off and apportioned to some part of Gbelleh Geh District #2, while some part of Gar-Bain know as electoral District #4 represented by Honorable Nohn Kiedor was also cut and pasted into District #1.

Addressing a news conference Monday at its headquarters, NEC Chairman James Fromayan said that the Commission has all authority regarding the new electoral district delineation exercise.

Chairman Fromayan said that NEC should not be held liable for the fault of the National Legislature, especially for failing to pass the Threshold Bill which lasted for more than two years in the house of legislature.

He said had the lawmakers passed the Threshold Bill, it would have made it very easy for the Commission to carry out its new electoral delineation exercise.

Chairman Fromayan furthered that the new electoral demarcation will take place across the 15 counties inclusive of counties that were not given additional seat.

But some representative aspirants of counties that do not have added seat(s) are taken aback over the decision by NEC to carry out the same demarcation exercise in their county. Some of the aspirants are making the statement for the fear of losing constituents.

NEC in collaboration with the International Foundation for Electoral System (IFES) started a nation-wide public consultation on the drawing of electoral district boundaries in the 15 counties.

The pilot project on the delineation exercise was formally launched on Monday in Nimba County.

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