45
• Witness Omaru Kamara, Liberty Party's poll observer in Lofa County, testified
that during the counting at Yallahhun Town, District #2, ballots belonging to
the LP candidate was given to the UP candidate, that when he complained, it
was corrected; that an invalid ballot was giving to the UP candidate, and when
he insisted, he was told to take a complaint form.
The Liberty Party rested with production of oral and documentary evidence
on October 28, 2017 and introduced into evidence instruments marked “C/1”
thru “C/23”.
UNITY PARTY'S INTERVENTION
During the October 28, 2017 sitting of the hearing, it was brought to the
Hearing Officer's attention that Joseph Nyumah Boakai, James Emmanuel
Nuquay, presidential and vice-presidential candidates at the October 10, 2017
Elections and the Unity', Party had on October 28, 2017 filed a motion to
intervene (to be admitted into the case) along with an intervenor's complaint,
which we produce herein: [THE BOARD THEN QUOTED VERBATIM THE
INTERVENORS’ COMPLAINT]
… with the Board of Commissioners. In response, the NEC filed a motion to
dismiss, arguing that the Unity Party failed to perfect its appeal from the
Hearing Officer's denial of the motion to intervene. We heard arguments from
the parties; denied the NEC's motion to dismiss the! Unity Party's appeal and,
in a subsequent ruling, granted the Unity Party's application to intervene in
the case and directed the Hearing Officer to immediately resume jurisdiction
over the case.
Upon resumption of jurisdiction by the Hearing officer, the Unity Party made
at least two motions and/or applications, all of which were heard and disposed
of by the Hearing Officer.
In presenting its side of the case, the Unity Party called eleven witnesses in
persons of Wilmot Paye. J. Cole Bangalu, Josiah Flomo Joekai; Ottos See Bliton;
Youdy Bella; C. A. Lamin Lighe; Jeff Blibo; Frances Johnson-Allison; David
Menyongai; Dennis Saah Popay; and No4 Kenneh.
TESTIMONIES OF WITNESSES CALLED BY THE UNITY PARTY
• Witness Wilmot Paye testified that long before the elections, the NEC had
admitted to difficulties and challenges but informed the political parties that
those were simple issues that could be addressed; that the NEC did not publish
the Final Registration Roll; that he registered but when he went to vote, his
name was not found in the FRR and the Staff wrote down his name and allow
him to vote; that hundreds of his supporters were angry because they were
denied their right to vote; that the Registration Roll that was presented to
political parties was completely different, from what NEC had.
• Witness J. Cole Bangalu testified that the provisional roll was not published;
that when the final roll was released there were discrepancies like individual
names not matching pictures; that the NEC's Chairman announced that those
holding voter cards will vote even if their names were not found in the FRR;
that the IUP raised concern and a Commissioner at the NEC disagreed with the
Chairman's statement and the untimely publication of the FRR that on
September 23, 2017 seven political parties were given the FRR on a flesh drive;
that the NEC had a SMS system which the Unity Party believe is an alteration
of the FRR,' which amounts to fraud; that group of people were
disenfranchised of their right to vote; that some voters voted more than once;