MONROVIA, LIBERIA-The Supreme Court of Liberia has denied the petition filed by the opposition Collaborating Political Parties (CPP), questioning the Constitutionality of the National Elections Commission’s (NEC) conduct of the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR).
In its petition to the Supreme Court, the CPP argued that the NEC is conducting the BVR exercise without demarcation of the Constitutional Electoral Constituencies.
But in its ruling on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, the High Court said it finds no reason to disturb the ongoing voter registration exercise.
The Court said NEC is in no violation of the Constitution, referring to Article 80 (c) and (d).
NEC according to the Supreme Court has a duty under Article 80 (e) to reapportion constituencies, adding that the duty is not self-executing.
The Court stressed that the duty to reapportion constituencies can only be executed based on the preconditions that a National Census Report be concluded and submitted to the National Legislature.
Meanwhile, the Supreme has also ruled in favor of Liberty Party Chairman, Musa Bility, in a petition filed by Senator Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence and others.
The Court affirmed Associate Justice Yusif Kaba’s ruling by granting the Peremptory Writ of Certiorari in favor of Musa Bility.
The Supreme Court ruled that the Board of Commissioners at the NEC was in error to have reopened the Liberty Party’s internal matter after they earlier passed on the matter.
Prior to the Court’s April 12 ruling, Senator Karnga Lawrence’s Legal Team questioned Associate Justice Kaba’s January 17 decision, with the hope of overturning it before the Full Bench.
