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CDC Gets a Second Chance to Prove 'Election Fraud'

FrontPageAfrica (Monrovia)
NEWS
November 17, 2005
Posted to the web November 18, 2005

By Sidiki Trawally

Millionaire soccer legend and his Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) has
today, Friday to come forth with much needed evidence to establish their claim
of election fraud is genuine. Otherwise anything to the contrary, he should
just concede.
Supporters of his rival camp continue to hold their breaths as his party's
lawyers and technocrats attempt to prove that allegations of fraud were
indisputable. If they do, their move could nip the joy of president-in-waiting
Ellen Sirleaf and twist a lot of things around. So on Friday, Liberians
anxiously await to see whether the party will prove a case of massive fraud
that could erase a 19-point margin.
"Uh, I hope this time around they will do something, but if they fail again to
show evidence, I think Weah should just shut up and concede," one of his
supporters, who worked in the diplomatic community angrily expressed
disappointment in the party's inability to demonstrate uprightness by showing
the much-anticipated evidence to authenticate claims of elections fraud.
The upset diplomat, who wants to remain anonymous told Frontpageafrica that the
world was waiting on the CDC to come forth with evidence they have to trouble
Mrs. Sirleaf long dream of becoming a president of Liberia, "but look at what
they have done, disgraced and embarrassed us like they are bunch of fools."
He said the Weah has the likelihood to turn the election around. "People
demonstrated in the streets just to send out a message that there were
irregularities. The people marched to the US embassy to demand for an
investigation, then when it was time to come out and prove the claims, the
someone is saying 'I forgot the evidence behind me'"
He reiterated his deepest disappointment in the CDC. He asked " where are the
Varney Sherman and the Alhaji Kromah who are supposed to be seasoned legal
counselors to work with Weah to put things in order?" He blamed the error
squarely on some of Weah's former rivals, who had endorsed his presidential bid
during the runoff. "For these knowledgeable politicians to just sit there and
let such a terrible mistake to happen is a betrayal."
The former diplomat said he felt sick when he learned that CDC had failed to
show proof on Wednesday at a hearing held at the elections commission
headquarters. "I took some Tylenol to relieve the strong headache that caught
me," he told Frontpageafrica.
The Liberian diplomat is not alone venting some kind of disappointment at CDC's
desolation. In an email sent to the Frontpageafrica, a Kenyan, who said he has
been keenly monitoring the electoral process in Liberia, lamented the Wednesday
incident would be one the saddest days in his life. "I don't know what when
wrong, but when I heard on BBC that Weah party failed to show evidence to prove
his claims, my whole day was miserable."
Gichingiri Muchiri said he admired Weah as a soccer star, but not as a
politician. "I have known him for a long time when he played soccer. I like him
so much, but he must understand that going into politics is totally different
from the soccer field." The African, however, noted that politics and sports
have some similarities.
He said Weah is a great footballer who knows what it means to lose a match.
"The referee is the judge on the field, and Weah knows that when he loses a
match, he would come back at another time, play well and win." He wants the CDC
candidate to apply that method to his political experience. "There would be
another day, but I think he should just get out of it now to stop all the
embarrassments."
Runoff winner, but uncertified Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has all right to waggle
her wings. Reports from Monrovia suggest the president-in-waiting remains
highly certain that her opponent will come up short to prove his case. Her
supporters are now making CDC a laughing stock. "They don't have anything to
show. It's all fallacy," said Dukuly in an email from Monrovia.
Reports reaching the Frontpageafrica indicate that all is not well in the Weah
camp since the Wednesday critical error as support for him is gradually fading.
Some of his supporters are reportedly beginning to find new bedfellows in the
Ellen camp. They are said to be hanging out with some executives of the Unity
Party, paying quiet visits to the party headquarters and to Mrs. Sirleaf's
compound, which is just few blocks away from Weah's residence.
The Frontpageafrica has learned that some CDC's die-hards, including campaign
chairman Jake Kabakollie and party's secretary general, L. Eugene Nagbe are
among those allegedly making a volte-face from their man in search for job for
themselves. Weah is said to be angry over these reports of desertions.
Stephen Mulbah of Sinkor old road told Frontpageafrica Thursday that the
Wednesday incident has watered down the enthusiasm in many CDC supporters who
has early engaged in street protests to decry the election results following
claims by their man, Weah that the election was rigged to deny him the
presidency.
"The ground is cold right now. We have not seen any one in the streets
protesting for Weah," Mulbah said and added that the CDC supporters were not
protesting because of the government ban on such activity. "I think they now
know the truth that their man is not saying the truth."
Two of the warlords, including Prince Johnson and Sekou Conneh, who supported
CDC Weah's presidential bid have made passionate appeals for their candidate to
concede in the name of peace. Johnson told executives of the US based African
Youth Association that he does not know why people continue to bash him for his
support to Weah, adding, "He is a Liberian like any other person. I did not
commit crime, but I just want him to forget about this thing and let move on."
Sekou Conneh, who endorsed Weah after the first round has also urged him to
concede defeat. He noted that "there were irregularities in the process, but
for the sake of peace and that of the country, I think he should accept the
result so that we can move ahead," Conneh told Reuters today.
Reports say all 18 members of Weah's party have threatened not to take up
parliamentary seats won in the elections last month in protest at the alleged
fraud. However, if Weah and his team cannot come up with anything substantial
to back up those claims, it may negate any impact of such a threat and Weah may
come out of this ordeal with a double doze of defeat.
One, in a landslide fashion against Johnson Sirleaf and the other over charges
of fraud that he and his team could not prove. Liberians await on the CDC to
make history: to prove their case or allow the first female president of Africa
to take her seat.

   

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