adminTubman’s call for a poll boycott, just days ahead of the vote.
“We are very concerned, it’s a bad signal . . . political leaders must be prepared to win or lose,” the head of the observer mission, former Ugandan vice-president Speciosa Wadira Kazibwe told journalists on Saturday night. Tubman has called for Liberians to stay away from the polls on Tuesday, alleging the first round of voting was flawed and the run-off will not be sufficiently transparent. He has said he will not recognise the outcome.
His decision has already been slammed by the United States and the Economic Community of West African States which has the largest observer mission in the country. The United States on Saturday said it was “deeply disappointed” by the boycott call, as the October 11 elections “were fair, free and transparent.”
Ecowas said it “deeply regrets the retrogressive tone” of Tubman’s statement, and urged all involved “not to miss this historic opportunity of consolidating democracy and peace in the country.”
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who is seeking a second term in office, has accused Tubman of violating the constitution, while he fired back with claims the incumbent was attempting to intimidate and silence him.
Tubman, a Harvard-trained lawyer who hoped his partnership with wildly popular former football star George Weah would secure him a first round victory, came second with 32,7 percent to Sirleaf’s 43,9 percent. – Sunday Nation.
Online Reporter