A top EU observer has accused lawmakers who are already in office for overspending on their election campaigns and utilising government resources for them as Liberians wait for the results of Tuesday’s general election.
Africa Today News, New York reports that neither President George Weah nor other incumbent politicians have commented on the claim.
Andreas Schieder, who’s heading the EU’s election observation mission, told the these actions flouted the rules of Liberia’s electoral code.
‘During the campaign we observed a lot of issues – and one of such major issues was the lack of level playing fields as it relates the economic side, they used financial supremacy and the other one is they used state resources [including houses, cars and other utilities],’ he told reporters.
Read Also: Lawmakers In Zimbabwe Lose Seats Over Fake Letter
Laws on financing regulations in Liberia’s election state that:
‘Election expenses shall not be incurred or authorized by a candidate or party beyond the Liberian dollar equivalent of $2m (£1.6m) for president, and $1m for vice-president.’
The EU observer head also hailed the turnout and said voters took part peacefully.
In another report, no fewer than fifteen opposition lawmakers in Zimbabwe have filed a court appeal saying they were tricked into losing their parliamentary seats.
The losses came after a man falsely claiming to be the party’s secretary said the MPs were no longer members.
On receipt of the fake letter, Zimbabwe’s parliamentary speaker declared the 15 seats vacant.
Resultant by-elections could hand ruling party Zanu-PF the majority it needs to amend the constitution.
Monday’s letter was signed by “Sengezo Tshabangu”, who claimed to be the secretary general for Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), Zimbabwe’s main opposition party.
It was littered with grammatical errors.
CCC leader Nelson Chamisa asked speaker Jacob Mudenda to disregard the letter, saying the party had no secretary general and had not expelled or recalled any MP.