Joseph Boakai Officially Declared Liberia’s New President

Joseph Boakai, the former Vice President of Liberia and Unity Party candidate, has been officially declared the winner of the 2023 presidential election. The announcement was made by Davidetta Lansannah, chairperson of Liberia’s National Election Commission (NEC) on Monday evening. After counting 100 percent of the votes from the country’s 5,890 polling places, Mr. Boakai secured 814,481 votes out of the available 1,625,684, surpassing incumbent President George Weah of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change, who received 793,914 votes. Mr. Boakai’s vote share represented 50.64 percent of the total votes cast, while Mr. Weah received 49.36 percent. The first round of voting on October 10 did not produce a clear winner among the 20 presidential candidates, leading to a runoff between Weah and Boakai, the top two contenders. Unlike the first round, where a winner needed over 50 percent of the votes, a simple majority sufficed in the second round. Weah graciously accepted defeat and congratulated President-elect Boakai, urging his supporters to do the same when about 99 percent of the votes were counted. Foreign leaders, including Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, extended congratulations to Mr. Boakai, commending the statesmanship displayed by both candidates. The United States Government also praised Mr. Weah for peacefully accepting the outcome of the closely contested election, emphasizing the need for national unity and healing post-election divisions. The victory of Joseph Boakai as Liberia’s new president signifies a historic moment, fostering hopes for unity and progress in the nation’s governance and development.

Liberia Election: Tinubu Hails George Weah For Conceding Defeat

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has extended his congratulations to Liberia for the successful completion of its Presidential Election. In a statement delivered by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu praised the Liberian government and its people for their commitment to a transparent and peaceful electoral process. President Tinubu specifically congratulated President-elect Joseph Boakai on his victory, urging him to prioritize national unity and harness the overwhelming support expressed by the electorate to drive progress and effective governance in Liberia. The Nigerian President also lauded outgoing President George Weah for his demonstration of remarkable leadership by gracefully conceding defeat, preventing potential socio-political tensions. “President George Weah’s gracious concession sets a sterling example of democratic sportsmanship, especially at a time when democratic values face threats in West Africa,” President Tinubu remarked in his statement.  “His act underscores the importance of respecting the will of the people and avoiding unrest following election outcomes.” Acknowledging the peaceful participation of Liberian citizens in exercising their democratic rights, President Tinubu urged continued dedication to upholding peace and democratic principles in the nation. The recent electoral results showed opposition leader Joseph Boakai leading with nearly 51% of the votes, prompting President Weah to acknowledge the irreversible lead and gracefully accept defeat. In a humble concession speech, President Weah emphasized that while the election might have ended his presidency, the true winners were the people of Liberia.  He highlighted the significance of respecting the electoral process and gracefully accepting outcomes for the greater good of the nation.