-Says NEC must be allowed to do its job
By Jerromie S. Walters
Daniel Nyakonah, an official of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) has called on media practitioners and media institutions across the country to avoid providing coverage for the opposition Unity Party (UP) planned press conference, as well as other press conferences of other political parties that are intended to announce elections results.
The opposition Unity Party is expected to conduct a press conference at 12noon today, October 12, 2023, at its Campaign Headquarters, Airfield New Road, Monrovia. As disclosed by officials of the party- the press conference is intended to announce provisional elections results from their war-room (s).
In a brief comment early Thursday, October 12, 2023, on Prime FM (105.5)- Nyakonah says the announcement of elections results by the Unity Party and other parties while NEC hasn’t announced the final results is unhealthy for the peace and security of the state.
He wants the media to boycott the Unity Party planned press conference- because he believes that it is only the National Elections Commission (NEC) that has the legal authority to announce elections results.
“If you are going to these events, mind you- the United States announced to issue travel restrictions, those travel restrictions are not only targeting politicians, it’s also targeting journalists, people who will amplify fake news that will be intended to undermine our peace, you will be investigated,” he tells Liberian journalists.
Also, Nyakonah calls on the Unity Party (UP) to cancel the press conference, says if they fail to do so, the media must stay out of it.
“We are clear about the maintenance of peace in Liberia,” he says and further warns other political parties that have already conducted press conferences- “To other political parties, don’t conduct another press conference.”
However, Montserrado County Senator Abe Darius Dillon says he sees nothing in political parties announcing results, as the results they have were acknowledged by NEC staff. “We will publish the tally sheets.”
He sees it as no incitement of violence, and warns the media and other politicians to avoid portraying it the other way.
With this- both Senator Dillon and Mohammed Ali of the Unity Party (UP) have confirmed that the press conference will not be postponed.
