MONROVIA, Montserrado – The Coalition for Democratic Change and its collaborating political parties say they will not tolerate any unconstitutional, undemocratic governance arrangement at the expiration of the current Unity Party term.

On November 6, the Supreme Court ruled on a request for a writ of prohibition filed by Liberty Party, ordering the National Elections Commission to hold off on a runoff election until fraud claims brought by the party are investigated.

But Ansu Sonii, CDC’s campaign spokesperson, addressing a news conference on Wednesday, said while the coalition respects the decision of the Supreme Court, all stakeholders including NEC need to act timely in setting back on course the electoral process.

“The CDC and its collaborating political parties will expect nothing less than a timely return to the democratic processes,” he stressed.

Sonii said if the runoff election is not held to permit the transition of power as required by the constitution, the resulting situation could ultimately draw the country into an unnecessary crisis.

“The CDC and its collaborating political parties maintain that the constitution of Liberia should not be compromised,” he added.

He said this elections season has seen CDC operating within the confines of the law. As guided by the constitution and consistent with the Farmington River Declaration, he said CDC is committed to the tenets of democracy and has pledged to ensure a violence-free transition.

Ansu Sonii, Coalition for Democratic Change’s campaign spokesperson, says the coalition will not tolerate any unconstitutional, undemocratic governance. Photo: Zeze Ballah

Sonii said his party was making the call to follow the constitution in the interest of the country and general good of its people, adding that “this is a matter a national urgency that is needed to avert unanticipated consequences could attend Liberia failure to do such.”

Sonii said the coalition remains committed to a smooth democratic constitutional transition and that “any attempt to hijack the electoral process through political artifice, scheming, and filibustering will be rejected by the coalition of political parties in no uncertain terms.”

He encouraged supporters and allies to remain peacefully engaged, law-abiding, and ignore all provocations while the adjudication process is underway.

The CDC spokesperson also called on the Mano River Union, ECOWAS, the African Union, the United Nations, and the international community at large to take note of the unfolding developments and to do all to ensure that Liberia’s fledgling multiparty democracy is supported.

Featured photo by Zeze Evans Ballah