Liberian poll: Run-off certain
2005-10-17 06:47
Monrovia - With results from about 84% of Liberia's polling stations tallied so far, it is now certain that a run-off is inevitable in the country as no candidate has attained even 35% of the vote.
In the latest results, soccer icon George Manneh Weah has maintained his comfortable lead, but with 251 489 votes equivalent to 30% of votes counted so far.
His closest rival, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of the Unity party polled 164 507 votes representing 19.6% of the votes, while the second runner-up, Charles Brumskine of the Liberty party has 101 000 votes representing 12.7% of total votes counted and tallied so far.
In her briefing on Sunday, National Election Commission Chairwoman Frances Johnson-Morris said 870 025 votes from 2 576 of the 3 070 polling stations have now been tallied.
Out of the number of 870 000 votes counted and tallied, 32 000 are invalid, according to the NEC chairperson.
Run-off expected to divide electorate
The run-off will be held two weeks after announcement of the final results, with the two highest candidates contesting. It is expected that the run-off will be between former world best player George Weah and Harvard trained economist Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.
The run-off is expected to divide the electorate between the largely illiterate masses and the more educated population.
Meanwhile, the NEC has begun releasing results of the senatorial (upper legislature) and house of representatives (lower house) elections also held on October 11.
The senate comprises 30 members - two from each county - while the house of representatives has 64 members determined by the population density of different areas.
The most populous counties, Montserrado and Nimba, will have 14 and 7 members of the house respectively.
- SAPA