Poll director sacked over wrong results

Monrovia, Friday

The Director of Public Information at the Liberian National Election Commission has been dismissed for informing the opposition party that an error gave the ruling party a win in the polls.

Mr Bobby Livingstone and his deputy were accused of saying that there was “an error in a notification” to the opposition Congress for Democratic Change.

The two informed the CDC party that it won the first round of the October 11 presidential elections.

The deputy has also been suspended for six months until the election period is completely over, sources said on Friday.

According to the West Africa Democracy Radio, Mr Livingstone and his deputy “were allegedly culpable of the erroneous letter to the Congress for Democratic Change which changed the earlier official outcome.”

In other words, it was the opposition Congress for Democratic Change that won the first place with 43.9 per cent whiles the ruling Unity Party of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf came second with 32.7 per cent.

The source said the incident has thrown the entire country into confusion with the public calling for the immediate resignation of the election boss Mr James Fromoyan.

But it is alleged that Mr Fromoyan on Thursday evening apologised, and described the incident as regrettable.

Even though Mr Fromoyan did not comment on the public outcry, it is very unlikely that he would step down from the post.

But analysts believe the position of both the opposition and ruling party on the matter will be rallying or dissension point that could strongly impact on the holding of a free and fair run off on November 8.