The latest update on the Liberia election reveals that incumbent President George Weah and his main rival, Joseph Boakai, are set for a run-off.
With almost all votes counted, provisional results show that Mr. Weah currently holds 43.8% of the vote, while Mr. Boakai is close behind with 43.5%. In their third batch of election results, the National Elections Commission released these figures.
However, the electoral process has not been without its challenges. The commission has announced that voting will be repeated in certain parts of Sinoe, Nimba, and Montserrado counties this Friday due to ballot tampering by unknown individuals.
Of the 18 other presidential candidates, none received more than 3% in the first round. Both Weah and Boakai are likely to seek their endorsement, as each vote will be crucial in the run-off.
Mr. Weah, a former international football star, is seeking a second term as president. He won a run-off in the 2017 poll with 61.5% to Mr. Boakai’s 38.5%. Interestingly, he received the most votes in the first round of that election—38.4% to Mr. Boakai’s 28.8%—suggesting that Mr. Boakai has gained more support in this year’s poll.
Analyst Abdullah Kiatamba told newsmen that whoever comes out on top in the first round will have the advantage of greater momentum going into the run-off, which is scheduled for November 7 after the announcement of official results.
At 78 years old, this might be Mr. Boakai’s last attempt at the presidency. He served as vice president under then-President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to achieve peace and stability in Liberia following a brutal civil war that killed an estimated 250,000 people.
Mr. Boakai has campaigned under the slogan “Rescue”, arguing that Liberia has declined during Mr. Weah’s first six years in office. However, Mr. Weah, now 57, has dismissed these allegations, stating that he has made significant strides during his tenure, including introducing free tuition for university students.